2023-08-01 16:43:06
As part of a historic experiment, the European Space Agency (ESA) performed a controlled re-entry of its satellite Atmospheric Dynamics Mission-Aeolus (ADM-Aeolus) when maneuvering to reduce the risk of such satellite end-of-life events creating space debris or fragments reaching the ground.
Header image: artistic representation of the ADM-Aeolus satellite. (ESA)
Launched on August 22, 2018, Aeolus was an ESA Earth observation satellite that was the first to be equipped with instruments to perform precise measurements to create observations of the profile of wind components at the global scale. It was also the first satellite capable of measuring winds from the Earth’s surface to the stratosphere at an altitude of 30,000 m.
Exceeding its 3-year lifespan by 18 months, the fuel for the thrusters used to adjust the satellite’s orbit was running out, and the recent increase in solar activity has caused the Earth’s atmosphere to expand, which has resulted in even greater fuel consumption.
As a result, the mission control center decided to end the mission. This decision is not exceptional, but the ESA wanted to take the opportunity to test a tightly controlled maneuver intended to make the reentry of disabled spacecraft much safer than required by current standards.
The different phases of ADM-Aeolus’ return to school. (ESA)
During the first of four phases, Aeolus’ orbit was brought back to an altitude of 280 km. The thrusters were then used to reduce the altitude to 250 km, during which ESA engineers assessed the spacecraft’s ability to perform large maneuvers at low altitude.
During the second phase, Aeolus performed four maneuvers in five days to descend to an altitude of 150 km. The third phase brought it back to an altitude of 120 km. It then progressed to Stage IV, during which thruster fuel and battery fluids were jettisoned to minimize the risk of explosion by scattering debris.
According to ESA, once Phase IV was completed, Aeolus was powered down, so the space agency might not track any radio transponders. However, TIRA radar showed that Aeolus had remained on the planned course. The US Space Command later confirmed that the satellite burned up on July 28, 2023 over Antarctica.
Announced on the ESA blog: Bye Bye Aeolus – a historic end to a trailblazing mission and on his website: Aeolus: a historic end to a trailblazing mission.
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