So Mir is set to be de-orbited (how often do you get to use that word?) in just a few more days, and the media machines are starting theyre 'what if' scenarios, detailing what could go wrong if, as has happened two other times NASA and the Russian Space Agency (well, the USSR at the time) tried to de-orbit sizable objects, resulting in the crash of Skylab in the Austrailian outback (and one very, very unfortunate cow), and an uncontrolled crash of a Soviet sattelite in rural Canada 23 years ago.

So what could happen this time? Well, both Japan and New Zealand are keeping a carefuil watch, even though it is more likely that Chile and Argentina would be the victims of a botched re-entry attempt.

My favorite media quote so far?

"It's 2 billion chances to 1 that you're going to get struck by this thing."
Col. Norman Black, U.S. Space Command.

Hmm... Seems to me that there are 6 billion people on the planet. Does Norman expect then that three people will be carrying the unlucky lottery tickets? Did we forget and leave a few people in the station?

I'm not one for reality TV, but I can't wait to see the re-entry video.