Bright light seen in Malaysian airspace linked to Nasa satellite re-entry, no debris found, says Mosti

On November 4, residents in several Malaysian states witnessed a glowing object in the sky, likely due to the re-entry of NASA's Swift Observatory satellite. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering lecturer Dr Muhammad Hanafi Azami from the International Islamic University Malaysia confirmed the sighting's timing with the satellite's known re-entry time of 8:39 PM Malaysian time.

Hanafi noted that the object was visible from 8:35 PM to 8:45 PM, aligning with the satellite's trajectory over northern Sumatra, Indonesia, approximately 322 kilometers north of the Equator. The satellite's fiery descent occurred at an altitude ranging from 80 to 100 kilometers, creating a visible fireball across the Strait of Malacca.

Despite the ongoing Southern Taurids meteor shower in early November, Dr Hanafi believed the discrepancy between meteors and satellites was apparent. Meteors travel significantly faster, typically disappearing within seconds, while satellites move more slowly and can remain visible for up to two minutes. The broken-up satellite components, such as solar panels and antennas, could produce multiple glowing fragments along the same path.

Dr Hanafi estimated that between 150 and 400 kilograms of metal debris could survive re-entry, with the majority falling into open water or designated safe zones. The risk of injury from falling debris was minimal, estimated at one in 2,100. Initially, videos shared on social media platforms like Threads had led to speculation that the glowing object might be a meteor or shooting star.