Planned Reentry Of ESA's Aeolus Wind Mission Could See It Burning Up In Earth's Atmosphere

The ESA's Aeolus wind mission has been in orbit for almost five years past its intended lifespan. Seven billion UV light pulses were sent down by the Aladin instrument aboard the satellite in order to study the Earth's wind. ESA is going above and above by attempting an aided reentry, the first of its type, to make the procedure even safer as Aeolus was never intended for a controlled return.

Aeolus is being lowered from its working height of 320 km by gravity, the gripping wisps of the Earth's atmosphere, solar activity, and other factors. As soon as Aeolus reaches a distance of 280 km, a series of commands will use the satellite's remaining fuel to direct it in the direction of the ideal reentry point.

The satellite will be lowered to a 250 km altitude in the initial maneuver. Aeolus is then guided down to 150 km using four maneuvers. The satellite will then burn up in Earth's atmosphere in large portions. Some debris, though, might get it to Earth. Planning the best place for reentry took months of knowledge in order to reduce the already extremely remote probability that falling debris could endanger infrastructure or human life. The flight control crew is aiming at a long, wide area of water as distant from shore as possible, beneath the trajectory of the satellite.

Credit: ESA

[GreenEnertechServices]

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