Defunct Wind Satellite Set for Unprecedented ‘Assisted’ Reentry

A mighty jazz satellite has been losing EL at a unbendable gait of nearly one knot per day , falling towards the surface of Earth . The European Space Agency ( ESA ) will attempt to direct the satellite on its way down to minimize risk of damage as its piece hit the ground .

ESA ’s Aeolus satellite , name after the ruler of malarkey from Grecian mythology , has been orbiting Earth for the past five years , mensurate the planet ’s winds on a global scale of measurement . Unfortunately , the artificial satellite is nearly out of fuel and is being dragged down from its orbital height of 198 mile ( 320 kilometers ) by somberness and increased atmospheric pull due to a late surge in solar natural action .

Aeolus was not designed for a controlled reentry through Earth ’s atmosphere . Instead , left to its own gadget , the satellite would keep lose altitude until finally burning up through Earth ’s atmosphere in a few months time , with chunks of Aeolus crashing down on undesignated placement .

ESA’s Aeolus wind satellite has been orbiting the planet for nearly five years.

ESA’s Aeolus wind satellite has been orbiting the planet for nearly five years.Illustration: ESA

In rules of order to prevent pieces of debris from potentially falling on populated domain , which would pose danger to people and property below , a squad at ESA will undertake a first - of - its - sort attend to reentry . “ This aid reentry effort exit above and beyond safety regulations for the mission , which was planned and plan in the previous nineties , ” Tim Flohrer , head of ESA ’s Space Debris Office , said in astatement . “ Once ESA and industrial partner detect that it might be possible to further reduce the already minimal risk to life or infrastructure even further , the wheels were correct in motion . ”

To serve minimise the growing military issue of defunct satellite zipping through Earth ’s orbit , some satellites are equipped with control reentry technology that deorbits them to low altitudes so that the impact site for possible junk is within a controlled orbit . Although Aeolus was not build with that eccentric of technology , ESA ’s team of technologist will still attempt to bring it down gently .

The satellite is presently mislay height at a rate of 0.6 mi ( 1 kilometer ) a day . Once Aeolus reaches an altitude of 173 mi ( 280 km ) , the team will broadcast a series of commands to the orbiter over a six - daylight period , using its remain fuel to run it towards an optimal position for atmospheric reentry .

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The last maneuver will be conduct when the satellite is at an elevation of 93 miles ( 150 kilometers ) , directing Aeolus towards its fiery reentry through Earth ’s atmospheric state . The majority of the satellite will sting up on reentry , but some pieces of debris might reach Earth . The pointedness of the aided reentry is for those slice to land in outback surface area .

“ Should all go to plan , Aeolus would be in line with current safety regulations for missions being designed today , ” Flohrer enjoin .

It ’s difficult to predict on the dot when Aeolus will make its way through Earth ’s atmosphere ; it ’s presently foretell to take home end of July to beginning of August .

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The artificial satellite ’s line will accelerate over time as it comes nearer to Earth and its gravitational discipline , in add-on to the Sun possibly speeding things up even more if it give out solar flares or coronal mess ejection . Charged particles from the Sun oestrus Earth ’s atmosphere , which prompts denser atmosphere to rise and further increases atmospheric pull on Aeolus , accord to ESA .

“ We are convinced we can succeed with this initiate effort that will set a new standard for space safety and sustainability now and in the futurity , ” Tommaso Parrinello , ESA ’s Aeolus missionary station coach , said in the statement .

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