European Space Agency Satellite Reentry

A satellite operated by the European Space Agency (ESA) reentered Earth’s atmosphere over the North Pacific Ocean between Alaska and Hawaii on Wednesday afternoon, with no reported damage, ESA officials confirmed.

Tracking and Monitoring

ESA’s Space Debris Office, in collaboration with an international surveillance network, closely monitored and tracked the Earth-observing ERS-2 satellite throughout February, enabling predictions about its reentry. The event occurred at 12:17 p.m. ET on Wednesday, and the ESA provided continuous live updates on its website.

Atmospheric Breakup

At approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) above Earth’s surface, the satellite disintegrated due to atmospheric drag. Most of the resulting fragments were expected to burn up harmlessly in the atmosphere. While there was a possibility of some fragments reaching the Earth’s surface, they were devoid of harmful substances and were projected to land in the ocean.

Images of the satellite

 

Solar Activity Influence

The exact timing of the reentry remained uncertain due to the unpredictability of solar activity, which can alter the density of Earth’s atmosphere and affect the satellite’s trajectory. Solar activity, approaching its peak in the 11-year solar cycle, known as solar maximum, is expected to heighten later this year.

Previous Impact

Increased solar activity had accelerated the reentry of ESA’s Aeolus satellite in July 2023.

Satellite Details

The ERS-2 satellite, after depleting its fuel, had an estimated mass of 5,057 pounds (2,294 kilograms), according to ESA.

Insights and Significance

Tim Flohrer, head of ESA’s Space Debris Office, emphasized that uncontrolled atmospheric reentry has been a standard practice for disposing of space objects at the end of their missions. Objects similar in size or larger than ERS-2 reenter the atmosphere multiple times annually.

ERS-2’s Legacy

ERS-2, launched on April 21, 1995, alongside its twin ERS-1, revolutionized Earth observation with its comprehensive data collection on polar caps, oceans, land surfaces, and natural disasters. The data it gathered remains invaluable for scientific research and applications.

Conclusion and Safety

The satellite’s operations ceased in 2011, and it was deliberately deorbited to mitigate space debris accumulation. ESA underscores that the risk of injury from space debris is infinitesimal compared to everyday risks, emphasizing the importance of responsible space management.