Nasa satellite expected to hit Earth

US space officials say they expect a dead satellite to fall to Earth this week.

Nasa has been watching the 6-tonne (5.4-metric tonne) satellite closely. Officials moved up their prediction for its arrival to 23 September, give or take a day.

Nasa scientists have calculated the satellite will break into 26 pieces as it gets closer to Earth. The odds of it hitting someone anywhere on the planet are 1 in 3,200. The heaviest piece to hit the ground will be about 350 pounds (159 kilogrammes), but no one has ever been hit by falling space junk in the past.

Nasa expects to give the public more detailed information early this week. For now, all continents except Antarctica could be hit by satellite debris.

AP