And because even in my malaise I could hear the agony of the French energy giant, EDF, in its standoff with the Treasury over what rewards it should get for building a new nuclear plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset, that seemed a plausible re-entry point for me.

BBC: Why Treasury may reject nuclear option

Its best estimate for the timing of the re-entry would have seen UARS come in at a point well out into the North Pacific.

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