2023-07-25 07:56:00
Researchers from the European Space Agency (ESA) aim to control the reentry of a satellite to Earth. If this operation succeeds, it might prove beneficial in the decades to come for the management of space debris in Earth orbit.
Aeolus
The European Space Agency (ESA) Aeolus satellite completed its mission on April 30. Until that date, it was collecting valuable data on the Earth’s winds. Due to its obsolescence, mainly due to a lack of fuel, Aeolus was planned to remain in orbit around the Terreand gradually fall towards the earth’s surface, attracted by gravity.
“If no intervention is made from the ground, Aeolus would return in a natural way – which is now common, knowing that on average one spacecraft per month re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere”underlines the ESA on its website, as noted TF1Info. Due to the growing interest in space from world powers and private corporations, the amount of debris in orbit around the Terre is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. According to NASA, there are already more than 23,000 currently rotating around the Earth.
> To read also: NASA: the Terra satellite captures images of Reunion
Over the Atlantic
On Friday July 28, a crucial operation of remote control of the craft will take place, marking the return of Aeolus to Terre. “We hope that there will be only 20% of the mass of the satellite left which will not burn, i.e. around 200 kg”explained Benjamin Bastida Virgili, systems engineer for the management of space debris at ESA, in Le Parisien.
The researcher clarified that the geographical area chosen for the impact of what will remain of the satellite is located above the Atlantic, devoid of islands or elements, in order to minimize the risks.
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