NASA On Air: NASA's Rainfall Satellite Comes To An End After 17 Data-filled Years (6/16/2015)

1. The SUV-sized TRMM satellite fell over the South Indian Ocean (still frame of satellite).

2. The satellite provided hurricane forecasters with groundbreaking 3-D views of hurricanes such as Katrina in 2005.

3. The detection of the towering 8-mile high thunderstorms indicates that a hurricane is getting stronger. TRMM also measured rainfall totals.

TAG: Most of the satellite pieces were expected to burn up due to friction in the atmosphere. The chance that a remnant would hit someone was one in 4,200 - which is quite low.