2023-07-29 10:37:17
For the first time, a satellite not designed for this purpose by the European Space Agency ESA has been guided into the earth’s atmosphere in a controlled manner. As the ESA reported on Saturday, citing the US Space Command, the “Aeolus” satellite re-entered the atmosphere over Antarctica on Friday evening (9:00 p.m. CEST) and burned up. All parts that did not burn up fell into the Atlantic as planned.
The background: The risk of debris falling onto land should be minimized. In addition, the risk of a collision with other objects in Earth orbit and thus the risk of even more space debris should be reduced. Therefore, the flight control team in Darmstadt aimed for a strip of sea that is as far away from land as possible.
Operating altitude of 320 kilometers
The probe was able to create wind profiles and thus improve weather forecasts. The mission had been in preparation for 16 years and was launched in 2018. The scientific operation of “Aeolus” was discontinued two months ago. With the remaining fuel on board, the maneuvers for the return were flown.
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According to the experts, such a maneuver is only possible for satellites with a near-Earth orbit of a few hundred kilometers. “Aeolus” had an operating altitude of 320 kilometers and was already being pulled towards the earth by gravity. After that, it should start to burn up at a height of 80 kilometers. Later designed satellites are equipped for such a maneuver or built from materials that burn up completely in the atmosphere, said the head of the space debris department, Tim Flohrer. “That’s standard on today’s missions.”
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