Space Station Falling To Earth, Experts Say Risk To People Is Slight

A defunct and reportedly out-of-control Chinese space station, Tiangong 1, is expected to reenter the atmosphere sometime this weekend.

Experts aren’t sure exactly where pieces of the nearly 9.5 ton spacecraft might land, but say it likely won’t pose much threat to people.

In fact, the only recorded incident of a person getting hit by falling space junk happened right here in Tulsa.

Lottie Williams says she was walking through a park in January 1997, when a piece of metal fell out of the sky and brushed her shoulder.

“I guess I was in the right place at the right, or wrong, time,” said Williams.  “If it starts coming for you, run.”

Williams was not hurt in the incident.

Experts predict the debris from the space station could land anywhere from 43 degrees north and 43 degrees south latitude, most likely over the Pacific Ocean.