SCIENCE

Aeolus satellite is falling to Earth: ESA attempts revolutionary maneuver

Aeolus, the European Space Agency (ESA) satellite built to study the Earth's winds with billions of laser pulses, is finally coming home after a five-year mission, during which it has provided an incredible boost to global weather forecasting research.

To bring it home, ESA plans to use the small amount of fuel still in the tank to perform a controlled drop, a type of re-entry, writes ANSA, that is unique and never before attempted. Initially, the satellite was designed for an uncontrolled fall to the surface.

In this way, ESA could pave the way for a new type of mission in space, one that is much safer and also, in the future, with the possibility of reusing some components. In addition, the problem of space debris could also find a solution.

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Aeolus satellite is traveling toward Earth
Aeolus, the European Space Agency (ESA) satellite built to study the earth's winds with billions of laser pulses, is finally coming home after a five-year mission, during which it has given an incredible boost to global weather forecasting research.
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ESA's new project
To bring it home, ESA plans to use the small amount of fuel still in the tank to perform a controlled drop, a type of re-entry, writes ANSA, that is unique and never before attempted. Initially, the satellite was designed for an uncontrolled fall to the surface.
Freepik
New future solutions for space travel
In this way, ESA could pave the way for a new type of space mission, one that is much safer and also, in the future, with the possibility of reusing certain components. In addition, the problem of space debris could also find a solution.
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ESA's Tim Flohrer's words.
Tim Flohrer, head of Esa's Space Debris Office, explained, reported by ANSA: 'This assisted re-entry attempt goes far beyond the safety standards of the mission, which was planned and designed in the late 1990s. Once it was discovered that it was possible to further reduce the already minimal risk to living beings and infrastructure, the wheels were set in motion. Should everything go according to plan, Aeolus would be in line with the current safety standards for missions designed today'.
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When will the satellite return to earth and the minimum altitude
Aeolus is currently heading back towards our planet, having started from its 'working' altitude of 320 kilometres. It is now travelling at a speed of about 1km per day, but is starting to accelerate more and more. The exact day of its fall into the Earth's atmosphere is not yet known, but according to ESA's available data, it should do so between the end of July and the beginning of August.
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The re-entry operation
When the altitude of 280 km is reached, then a whole series of instructions will be sent to bring the satellite to the 'optimum point', from where it will really begin its fall towards the ocean. The manoeuvres that will follow will then be used to lower the satellite even further, reaching an altitude of 80 km, when it will begin to burn up in the atmosphere: it will almost completely disintegrate at this stage, but some debris may land on Earth.
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