Satellite ERS-2 was hard to track as it fell to Earth: Here's why

A defunct Earth-observing satellite descended from orbit Wednesday and safely disintegrated over the Pacific. The European Remote Sensing 2 satellite, known as ERS-2, made its reentry halfway between Hawaii and Alaska. The European Space Agency confirmed the end of the 5,000-pound (2,300-kilogram) spacecraft. There were no reports of damage or injuries.