Brunei Ready To Deal With Falling Italian Satellite
By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei is adequately geared to deal if any fragments of debris that may falling on the Sultanate tomorrow from a disintegrating Italian satellite.

A national committee comprising of representatives from government ministries, the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, the Royal Brunei Police Force, the Fire Services Department and other relevant agencies, has been set up for this purpose.

The Ministry of Communications in a press statement also said that this committee will monitor the situation closely and provide whatever aid that may be required, in the event of fragments of the satellite falling on Brunei.

These precautions are being taken following reports that BEPPO-SAX satellite owned by the Italian Space Agency is expected to disintegrate in the atmosphere at a distance of 100 km away from the earth.

The fragments will fall along the Equator between +4.36 degrees North and -4.36 degrees South. These areas include the southern part of Brunei Darussalam, especially the rural areas of Belait, Tutong and Temburong Districts.

However, the likelihood of these fragments falling within these areas is extremely remote, the ministry's statement added.

According to the latest information from the Italian Space Agency, these fragments are expected to reach earth between April 29 and May 3, 2003. However the specific time when these fragments are expected to fall will be at 11.08 am April 30. A more certain time and date can be known a few hours prior to the expected time.

This satellite was used to study X-ray radiations and its operation has been terminated since April 30, 2002.

The Ministry of Communications through the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry (AiTi) has been informed about this matter by the Embassy of the Republic of Italy.

This satellite, which measures 2.4 m by 3.6 m (satellite body) and 18 m (solar arrays) and weighing 1400 kg, is currently orbiting the earth every 89.5 minutes at a distance between 240 km and 244 km from the Earth. Due to air resistance, the position of the satellite tends to lower rapidly at 9.5 km per day.

When the satellite burns upon entrance into the Earth's atmosphere, about 40 fragments of debris will fall to the ground. All together, these fragments from the satellite will weigh 650 kg, the heaviest of which is at 120 kg. These fragments will reach the earth at a speed of 60-460 km/h. At that speed, the effects are limited only to its locality.

These fragments contain chemical substances from the satellite batteries, which must not be touched or inhaled as these substances are poisonous and dangerous, but do not contain any radioactive materials.

Nevertheless, there is no need for the public, especially for those residing at the rural areas, to be concerned and apprehensive about the possibility of the fragments falling within the borders of Brunei.

Updated information will be provided through the media, radio and television, the Ministry of Communications' statement added. -- Courtesy Of Borneo Bulletin

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