A retired NASA satellite weighing around 600 kilograms is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere after nearly 14 years in orbit, raising questions about whether people on the ground should be concerned, according to Live Science.

Experts say the risk to the public is extremely small, as most of the spacecraft will burn up before reaching the surface. 

The spacecraft, called Van Allen Probe A, was launched by NASA in August 2012 along with its twin probe. The mission was designed to study the Van Allen radiation belts, zones of energetic charged particles trapped by Earth's magnetic field. 

These belts play a crucial role in protecting the planet from harmful radiation and solar particles. The probes helped scientists better understand "space weather" and how it can affect satellites, astronauts and communication systems on Earth. 

Although the mission was originally planned to last about two years, the spacecraft continued collecting valuable data for nearly seven years before both probes were shut down in 2019 after running out of fuel. 

Source:Ndtv