Topic: Orbital Debris

A 24-ton Chinese rocket stage makes an uncontrolled re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, landing in the Indian Ocean. NPR reports on the incident, highlighting calls for greater international regulation of space debris. The hosts use the inability of scientists to predict the exact landing time or location to question the accuracy of long-term climate change models.

NASA's Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), a 12,000-pound piece of space junk, is expected to fall back to Earth in an uncontrolled re-entry. NASA scientists state the debris could land anywhere between 57 degrees north and south latitude, covering most of the world's populated areas.

Following a mass shooting in Alabama where the gunman killed himself, reports surfaced of U.S. military troops appearing on local streets, raising constitutional concerns. Separately, the Space Shuttle launch was delayed again, officially due to a hydrogen leak, though the hosts suggest orbital debris from a "space war" is the true cause. A school shooting in Germany is also briefly noted as part of a week of high-profile violence.