The reaction to this radiationisgreater on the afternoonside than on the morningside and there is thus a small force pushing on the afternoon side that gradually distorts the asteroid'sorbit.
North Korea successfully launched a rocket into earth orbit on Wednesday morning after more than a decade of attempts, raising fears that the country is now or will soon be capable of firing missiles that can reach the United States.
Using the most recent determination of UARS' orbit - taken in the early hours of this morning - Dr Eves and a colleague have come up with their own projections of the satellite's final descent.