Mir wreckage could wash up on islands

ON THE NEWS Hugh Williams: The stunning fall of the Mir

NADI, Fiji -- Wreckage from the Russian space station Mir that plunged into the Pacific Ocean this week could wash up on Pacific islands, experts believe.

Mir ended its 15 years in space in a fiery return to earth, guided by Russian mission controllers who successfully shunted it out of orbit on Friday.

Experts say parts of the 143-ton wreck may be floating just below the water's surface and could wash up on a Pacific island.

However, any salvaged pieces of the craft are likely to be worthless, according to James George, executive director of the Los Angeles-based Space Frontier Foundation, who joined 30 other space fans on an expedition to Fiji to watch Mir's descent.

"A salvaged chunk of Mir ... I personally wouldn't pay a whole lot for it. Mir's down and it's old news," George said on Saturday.

VIDEO See the burning Mir streaking across the skies over Fiji Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Miles O'Brien looks back on the impressive 15-year life of Mir Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     GALLERY Animation of Mir's final descent to Earth     INTERACTIVE Flash: Anatomy of a de-orbit (NOTE: plug-in required, download here)     RESOURCE In-Depth Special: Mir falls to Earth

"You look at the auctions that happen in Los Angeles all the time, of U.S. and Russian space memorabilia, and you're talking intact items like helmets, valves, gloves and parts of suits.

"The value is at best a few hundred dollars unless the item is really significant."

Most of the space junk burned up in the atmosphere but bits of Mir survived the fall.

Although much of the debris will have sunk, pressurized fuel tanks and other empty containers may have enough buoyancy to float close to the surface, the organiser of the Fiji expedition Rick Citron said.

"Many of them (pressurized tanks) will float, if not on the surface (then) just below the surface and those are the major pieces that survived ... and could probably be found with simple sonar gear," he said.

Citron said the titanium balls used for fuel storage likely survived.

Having fallen in international waters, it was open to anyone to try to recover pieces, said George.

"I personally wouldn't want to bet my fortune on running a salvage operation to haul that up ... I just don't think its worth that much," he said.

"Its not like having a chunk of Titanic."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

'Mir has completed its triumphant mission'
March 23, 2001
Other spacecraft that have littered Earth
March 22, 2001
Mir's return brings back memories of Skylab
March 22, 2001
Mir nears fiery finish
March 22, 2001
Mir maneuvers before risky plunge
March 21, 2001
Deadline set for Mir's demise
March 20, 2001
Mir crash delayed again as spectators gather
March 19, 2001

Mir Space Station
International space station Alpha
NASA's Skywatch

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