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BALTIMORE SUN Science Section C-4
SATELLITE MAY FALL OUT OF SKY
Scientists warn that satellite could reenter atmosphere and crash in populated region
HOUSTON, TX—NASA scientists announced today that the Bradbury Telecommunications Satellite, launched seven years ago, is exhibiting unusual changes in its orbit, which could bring the 1,390-pound object crashing back to Earth.
“The satellite has a fifty percent chance of reentering the atmosphere sometime in the next few days or weeks,” said NASA communications director Maxmore Potkin. “Nonetheless, citizens should not panic, because most of the satellite will be incinerated upon reentry, making for little more than a spectacular light show.”
Other scientists, however, suggest that if even a small portion of the satellite survives reentry and lands in a populated region, the impact could do tremendous damage. Where it might land is impossible to predict. Likewise, the cause for the change in its orbit remains a mystery. “Sometimes things happen that even rocket scientists can’t explain,” said Potkin.
The Bradbury Telecommunications Satellite first made news seven years ago, when its takeoff tragically claimed the lives of Mal and Irma Poe, NASA scientists who failed to leave the rocket during the countdown and were accidentally launched into space.
TWELVE-YEAR-OLD identical twins Edgar and Allan Poe—the great-great-great-great grandnephews of Edgar Allan Poe, famous nineteenth-century author of horror, suspense, and detective stories—sat in adjacent desks in their first period English class. Friends hovered around them, asking for details about the recent events in Kansas and New Orleans that had made the twins famous.
When the bell rang, their teacher, Mrs. Rosecrans, called the class to order, but no one paid her much attention. It was January 5, the first day back from winter break at Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Middle School, so everyone was still in a holiday frame of mind.
Two weeks off will do that.
Of course, Edgar and Allan had been away from school much longer.
In mid-October, the Poe twins had been suspended from the entire Baltimore City School District on trumped-up charges. In the interim, they’d had amazing adventures. Nonetheless, they were glad to be back and happy to see their friends.
“Did no one hear the bell?” called Mrs. Rosecrans from the front of the room. Edgar and Allan noted that she’d lost weight since they’d last seen her—the glazed doughnut she habitually set on her podium had been replaced by an apple.
Good for her, the twins thought.
“Enough chattering!” she cried. Then she went on more gently: “Class, I understand you all want to welcome back Edgar and Allan. But we have a guest today.”
At Mrs. Rosecrans’s desk sat a dark-haired woman, well-dressed and possessed of a smile made prominent by a bright shade of red lipstick. She wore so much makeup that there was no way of guessing her age; she might have been anywhere between fifty and seventy. She waved a little sheepishly.
“Besides,” the teacher continued as kids started back to their desks and the room finally settled, “I’m sure Edgar and Allan aren’t the only ones to have had exciting adventures over vacation.”
Stevie “The Hulk” Harrison, one of the twins’ best friends, muttered sarcastically, “Sure, we’ve all experienced life-threatening criminal conspiracies, starred in a major motion picture, and discovered pirate treasure.”
“Now, Stevie,” answered Mrs. Rosecrans, tapping the metal podium, “let’s not discount the excitement of ordinary life.”
Stevie said nothing, having learned by being repeatedly kicked out of class that it was better not to push her too far.
She cleared her throat. “Our guest this morning is Miss Re—”
But before she could get the whole name out, the dark-haired woman interrupted. “Please, Mrs. Rosecrans, nothing formal.” She stood and nodded to the class. “Call me Birdy, kids. Everyone does.”
