Why the spy satellite won't fall on your head

[Rick]

An out-of-control US spy satellite - possibly the size of small bus - is believed to be plummeting out of its orbit and is expected to crash somewhere on the planet within weeks. But space experts don't believe the rogue satellite poses much of a threat to humankind.

Some sections of the media, however, have seized the opportunity to sound the alert, recalling the Hollywood blockbuster, Armageddon, in which an asteroid the size of Texas heads towards Earth. In the film, a team led by Willis is sent to try to nuke the rock from the inside.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7213147.stm

[Rick]

A "large" US spy satellite has gone out of control and is expected to crash to Earth sometime in late February or March, government sources say.

Officials speaking on condition of anonymity said the satellite had lost power and propulsion, and could contain hazardous materials.

The White House said it was monitoring the situation.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7211443.stm

[Rick]

The US military is putting into effect contingency plans to deal with the possibility that a large spy satellite expected to fall to Earth in late February or early March could actually hit North America.

Exactly what these contingency plans consist of is not clear at this stage - we thought perhaps a giant baseball mitt. But one thing's for sure, the race will be on to salvage the splatted spy sat. Air Force General Gene Renuart, who heads US Northern Command, told the Associated Press a number of pieces will not burn up as the orbiting vehicle re-enters the Earth's atmosphere and will instead hit the ground.

"We know there is at least some percentage that it could land on ground as opposed to in the water."

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/30/stateside_spy_sat_splat/

[mickw]

It seems daft that the shuttle can be sent up to fix Hubble, but the military couldn't be bothered to get shuttle mission to remove a couple of panels.
That would have destroyed the aerodynamics on entry and it would have probably possibly broken up early then burnt up in smaller pieces.
I wish I knew more about physics