In Tyrol and the neighboring federal states there could be mysterious lighting phenomena in the night sky and a sonic boom on Friday evening. But don’t panic: the possible spectacle has an explainable reason.
A dropped battery pack from the International Space Station is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere on Friday, potentially shattering. Debris could also roam the airspace over Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Carinthia, according to statements from the state governments, citing information from the German Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief. Impact “extremely unlikely” Flares and a sonic boom caused by the debris are possible. An impact of fragments on the earth’s surface is “extremely unlikely”. The overflight times affect the southeast of Carinthia from 4:20 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. and the southwest between 8:55 p.m. and 9:25 p.m. In Vorarlberg and Tyrol, lighting phenomena or the perception of a sonic boom can be expected between 8.45 p.m. and 9.15 p.m. Experts are following developments closely. There is currently no danger to people. Elmar Rizzoli, head of the Center for Crisis and Disaster Management in the State of Tyrol, explains: “In such cases, transparent, rapid and broad population information is essential in order to make people as aware of unusual lights and noises as possible and to prevent panic in advance “Even if, according to current knowledge, only lighting effects and a sonic boom are to be expected, “we are following developments closely and are in close contact with the Ministry of the Interior and the neighboring states of Vorarlberg and Carinthia, which are also affected. If the situation changes, further information will be announced immediately,” Rizzoli continued. Will the battery pack burn up? Europe’s former space chief Jan Wörner considers the danger from debris to be low. “Batteries really like to burn. I assume that the package will almost completely burn up in the atmosphere,” said Wörner. “Perhaps the dismantling will be seen as a beautiful shooting star.” A hit in an inhabited area is unlikely.
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