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Astronaut Takes Out the Trash, Into Space

Discarded equipment expected to burn up in Earth's atmosphere

By Dustin Lushing, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 23, 2007 4:46 PM CDT

(Newser) – A NASA astronaut hurled two large pieces of space junk—a 1,400-pound reservoir filled with ammonia and a 212-pound piece of video equipment—off the International Space Station and into the Earth's orbit today. NASA does not approve of space littering, Reuters reports, but the agency had no other option.

Both pieces of scrap, which would have taken up too much room in the shuttle bay to be returned, will be tracked by radar and are expected to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere. Chunks of the tank as big as 39 pounds could be durable enough to pass through, but scientists say they're likely to land in the ocean.

[Images (4)]

[Videos (1)]

In this image from NASA TV astronaut Clay Anderson at the end of the robotic arm on the international space station holds a piece of hardware that was removed from the station, Monday, July 23, 2007.... (Associated Press)

In this image from NASA TV astronaut Clay Anderson at the end of the robotic arm on the international space station releases a piece of hardware that was removed from the station, Monday, July 23, 2007.... (Associated Press)

In this image from NASA TV astronaut Clay Anderson is shown against the backdrop of Earth during a space walk on the international space station, Monday, July 23, 2007. (AP Photo/NASA TV) (Associated Press)

In this image from NASA TV astronaut Clay Anderson at the end of the robotic arm on the international space station holds the second piece of hardware that was removed from the station, Monday, July 23,... (Associated Press)

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Astronauts train underwater for spacewalk missions outside the International Space Station. (stsspace (YouTube))

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Astronaut Takes Out the Trash, Into Space