The 2,630-kilogram EP9 (Exposed Pallet 9) spent battery block, which was dropped from the ISS in March 2021, is expected to enter the Earth’s atmosphere at noon on March 9. It was the most powerful object launched from the station at the time. Disposing of used equipment in this manner is common practice; such objects mostly burn up in the atmosphere.

On the eve of this event, the German Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief issued a statement: “A large space object is expected to enter the Earth’s atmosphere and possibly disintegrate between noon on March 8 and noon on March 9. The object is batteries from the International Space Station (ISS). Light phenomenon or sensation of sound impact is possible”. The agency assessed that the probability of the object’s debris falling on German territory was very low.

Astronomer Jonathan McDowell (Jonathan McDowell) from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics stated that the entry of the battery pack into the atmosphere is expected between 12:30 GMT and 8:30 GMT on March 8. Satellite tracking expert Marco Langbroek reported that he managed to capture the object’s flight over the Netherlands.