The European Space Agency forecasts the anticipated return of a defunct satellite to Earth this week, marking the conclusion of its mission spanning over a decade. ERS-2, one of the initial advanced Earth observing satellites of the European Space Agency, is expected to undergo a ‘natural’ re-entry following its 16-year tenure in space. The agency estimates the satellite’s re-entry into the atmosphere to occur around 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday, as of Sunday afternoon.
Launched in 1995, the satellite surpassed its initially planned three-year lifespan, operating until 2011 and contributing data to over 5,000 projects. Its mission included monitoring polar ice reduction, sea level changes, and atmospheric composition.
Upon capturing its final image, the ESA executed 66 de-orbiting maneuvers to prevent the satellite from lingering in space for more than a century.
The agency anticipates that most of the 2.5-ton satellite will disintegrate upon re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. Any remaining debris is expected to fall into a body of water, though the agency has not provided a specific prediction regarding the impact location.”
