The astronauts survived by rationing water and food while using the lunar lander as a lifeboat before returning to the command module for re-entry to Earth.

VOA: standard.2010.04.04

Challenger exploded shortly after launch in 1986, and Columbia broke apart upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere in 2003.

CNN: Space shuttle Endeavour's final touchdown

The waterproofing burns off during the shuttle's fiery re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, leaving the tile-encrusted spacecraft vulnerable to the elements after landing.

CNN: Technicians finish toasting shuttle tiles

Late Friday, NASA put out a statement indicating that the satellite's orbit was taking it as close as 90 miles to the Earth and re-entry was expected around midnight or early Saturday Eastern Daylight Time.

WSJ: Falling Satellite Debris Might Hit U.S.