And more recently, in the year 2000, NASA maneuvered a satellite to a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

NPR: Spy Satellite Expected to Return to Earth Soon

Nasa says its six-tonne UARS satellite plunged to Earth over the Pacific Ocean, off the US west coast.

BBC: Nasa's UARS satellite falls off west coast of US

Similar satellite technology was used on the Pacific species of walruses, not considered endangered, but never on the Atlantic species, which is considered rare and threatened.

FORBES: For Walrus Wary Russian Oil Drillers, WWF Turns To Space