The stricken Russian spacecraft, Phobos-Grunt, is likely to crash to Earth on Sunday or Monday, say scientists tracking its path.
It's being monitored intensively by ESA, NASA and the Russian space agency Roscosmos, who say they're expecting it to come down safely. There's been serious concern that the spacecraft's fuel tanks could survive reentry intact, braking up and releasing toxic chemicals on impact.
However, scientists believe that the relatively flimsy construction of its aluminum fuel tanks means they're likely to rupture well before this point.
"Analyses by Roscosmos and NASA indicate that the fuel tanks, filled with unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine
It's being monitored intensively by ESA, NASA and the Russian space agency Roscosmos, who say they're expecting it to come down safely. There's been serious concern that the spacecraft's fuel tanks could survive reentry intact, braking up and releasing toxic chemicals on impact.
However, scientists believe that the relatively flimsy construction of its aluminum fuel tanks means they're likely to rupture well before this point.
"Analyses by Roscosmos and NASA indicate that the fuel tanks, filled with unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine