A satellite burning up as it travels through Earth's atmosphere.
ESA/David Ducross
The European Space Agency is gearing up for the controlled reentry of its satellite called Salsa next month on September 8.
While ESA conducted guided re-entry of a weather satellite last year, this time will attempt to capture Salsa’s reentry live from the sky.
To gather valuable data about the reentry process, ESA will launch a plane equipped with cameras and other scientific instruments. Scientists on board will attempt to capture the event and study how the satellite breaks up.
We are sending a plane to observe Salsa’s reentry live from the sky to observe a satellite class and reentry conditions which have never been accessible before,” said Stijn Lemmens, Space Debris Analyst in the ESA Space Debris Office.
Lemmens further added: “There’s testing we can do on the ground, and we have virtual modelling, but we also need real-life observations right at the scene of a reentry to complete the picture. The observation experiment from a plane is an exciting new possibility for us to collect data and gain confidence in the modelling to support new missions.”
Salsa satellite is part of the ESA Cluster mission, which includes a total of four satellites. The other Cluster satellites include Rumba, Samba, and Tango.
The Cluster mission was launched in 2000 to study Earth’s magnetic environment. Interestingly, the mission far outlived its initial two-year lifespan.”
It has provided invaluable insights into the Sun-Earth interaction and the protection provided by our planet’s magnetosphere.
This magnetic region protects the Earthlings from the stream of charged particles released by the Sun towards the planet. This region makes life possible on Earth.
“For over two decades, Cluster has shown us time and time again how important the magnetosphere is in shielding us from the solar wind. It has watched the effects of solar storms to help us better understand and forecast space weather,” said Philippe Escoubet, Cluster Mission Manager.
On September 8th, the first of four satellites will make a controlled reentry into Earth’s atmosphere over the uninhabited South Pacific Ocean.
By conducting controlled reentries, satellite operators can minimize the risk of debris causing damage to other satellites or falling to Earth in populated regions.
In January, ESA adjusted Salsa’s orbit to ensure a controlled descent from 110 km to 80 km on September 8th.
“This gives us the greatest possible control over where the spacecraft will be captured by the atmosphere and begin to burn up,” mentioned Bruno Sousa, Cluster Operations Manager, in the press release.
Mission control is certain that no remaining pieces will land on land.
Although thousands of satellites and rocket parts have reentered Earth’s atmosphere over the past seven decades, the exact details of this process remain elusive.
ESA also intends to witness the reentry of the remaining three satellites live from a plane. The specific dates for these reentries have not been disclosed at this time.
Since the four Cluster satellites are identical, observing their reentries under different conditions can provide valuable data on satellite breakup.
This airborne observation experiment will be supported by cameras and spectrographs. Altogether, 20 scientific instruments will monitor the explosion, track debris, and record detailed data.
This could be used to “make satellite reentries safer and more sustainable in the future.” Further details of this one-of-a-kind experiment are awaited.
SpaceX return rockets and ISS return capsules do not burn up upon reentry because of a combination of careful engineering and advanced heat shielding.
These spacecraft have protective coverings that can withstand the intense heat during reentry. These coverings are often made of materials that absorb and vaporize heat or tiles that can resist extreme temperatures.
On the other hand, satellites do not have advanced heat shields for reentry as they are intended to destroy at the end of their mission.
The reentry research on the Cluster satellite could provide valuable insights into the risks associated with satellite reentries in general.
For instance, SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet system has launched nearly 7,000 satellites into orbit. While SpaceX has designed these satellites to burn up completely during reentry, the US Federal Aviation Administration has raised concerns about the potential for dangerous debris to fall from these satellites.
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Mrigakshi Dixit Mrigakshi is a science journalist who enjoys writing about space exploration, biology, and technological innovations. Her work has been featured in well-known publications including Nature India, Supercluster, The Weather Channel and Astronomy magazine. If you have pitches in mind, please do not hesitate to email her.
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