"Object B" to reenter soon

[MeteorWayne]

Some part of the Soyuz rocket that just docked at the ISS is due to return to earth very soon The time is only roughly known, +/- 20 hours from 2005 UTC Mar 30. For some reason, the perigee appears to be over the US; a reentry at the center time would be 1:05 PM PDT over the western US. tomorrow.

http://www.reentrynews.com/2009015b.html

Edit D'oh! Now I understand The Balkinor Cosmodrome is about 45 degrees north, and hence the perigee will be around there as the earth rotates underneath it!

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

Any idea what this "object b" could be? I take it that it's normal piece of flotsam?

 

[MeteorWayne]

No, unfortunately, no idea. I've looked, and can't find anything useful. I suspect (but do not know for sure) it is a lightweight piece considering the large +/- window.
MW

 

[MeteorWayne]

Looks like the second stage rocket body, it has been redisgnated Soyuz U. If you look quick you might be able to find the final predition with a +/- 30 minute window, reentering over eastern asia about midnight last night.

BTW, this eliminates it as a possible source of the East Coast Fireball last night.

http://www.reentrynews.com/2009015b.html