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| Ecuador Pegasus satellite fears over space debris crash | Ecuador Pegasus satellite fears over space debris crash |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The Ecuadorean space agency (EXA) is trying to pick up signals from its satellite after it was found to be on a collision course with space debris. | The Ecuadorean space agency (EXA) is trying to pick up signals from its satellite after it was found to be on a collision course with space debris. |
| The nano-satellite, called Pegasus, was launched from the Jiuquan spaceport in China less than a month ago. | The nano-satellite, called Pegasus, was launched from the Jiuquan spaceport in China less than a month ago. |
| It is Ecuador's first and only satellite in orbit. | It is Ecuador's first and only satellite in orbit. |
| Experts calculated Pegasus was on a course to collide at 05:38 GMT on Thursday with debris from a Soviet rocket launched in 1985. | |
| EXA chief Ronnie Nader said Ecuadorean engineers would monitor the nano-satellite but could only be sure of its fate some 36 to 48 hours after the suspected collision. | EXA chief Ronnie Nader said Ecuadorean engineers would monitor the nano-satellite but could only be sure of its fate some 36 to 48 hours after the suspected collision. |
| He said EXA would use radar to check on Pegasus in the hope of finding it unscathed. | He said EXA would use radar to check on Pegasus in the hope of finding it unscathed. |
| Debris threat | Debris threat |
| Pegasus, a small cube weighing just 1.2kg (2.6lb), has been orbiting the Earth at a height of 650km (404 miles), transmitting pictures from space while playing recordings of the Ecuadorean national anthem. | Pegasus, a small cube weighing just 1.2kg (2.6lb), has been orbiting the Earth at a height of 650km (404 miles), transmitting pictures from space while playing recordings of the Ecuadorean national anthem. |
| On Wednesday, the US-based Joint Space Operations Center, which monitors all artificial Earth-orbiting objects, notified EXA of a possible collision between Pegasus and the fuel tank of an S14 Soviet rocket over the Indian Ocean, some 1,500km east of Madagascar. | On Wednesday, the US-based Joint Space Operations Center, which monitors all artificial Earth-orbiting objects, notified EXA of a possible collision between Pegasus and the fuel tank of an S14 Soviet rocket over the Indian Ocean, some 1,500km east of Madagascar. |
| EXA said it hoped that if the two were to collide, it would be a lateral rather than a frontal crash, sparing the satellite's wings. | EXA said it hoped that if the two were to collide, it would be a lateral rather than a frontal crash, sparing the satellite's wings. |
| Mr Nader said the satellite was insured. | Mr Nader said the satellite was insured. |
| The Ecuadorean government contributed $700,000 (£465,000) to its launch on board an unmanned rocket. | The Ecuadorean government contributed $700,000 (£465,000) to its launch on board an unmanned rocket. |
| Ecuador is planning to launch a second satellite, named Kryasor, from Russia in August. | Ecuador is planning to launch a second satellite, named Kryasor, from Russia in August. |
| The Joint Space Operations Center tracks more than 22,000 objects orbiting Earth, of which 87% are debris and inactive satellites. | The Joint Space Operations Center tracks more than 22,000 objects orbiting Earth, of which 87% are debris and inactive satellites. |