Out-of-Control Satellite Safely Plunges into Pacific Ocean After 13 Years in Orbit
In a dramatic conclusion to its 13-year journey, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) out-of-control satellite, ERS-2, made a safe descent into the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday afternoon. The 5,550-pound satellite reentered the Earth’s atmosphere at 12:17 p.m. Eastern Time, somewhere over the North Pacific Ocean between Alaska and Hawaii, according to ESA Operations.
The ESA had been closely monitoring the satellite’s descent, predicting that it would break into pieces and disintegrate upon arrival before landing harmlessly in the vast body of water that covers 71% of the Earth’s surface. Mirko Albani from ESA’s Earth Observation Ground Segment Department assured the public that none of the elements that might re-enter the atmosphere were radioactive or toxic, providing further reassurance about the safety of the satellite’s descent.
Launched in 1995, ERS-2 was Europe’s most sophisticated Earth observation spacecraft at the time. Over the course of its 16-year mission, it collected valuable data from the planet’s surface and conducted studies on natural disasters in remote locations. The satellite played a crucial role in advancing our understanding of Earth’s land, oceans, and polar caps.
The trajectory of ERS-2’s fall was impossible to predict accurately since its reentry was natural and not controlled by humans. During a press conference held last week, officials emphasized the difficulty in forecasting where the satellite would land. They estimated that the largest fragment that could reach the ground would weigh around 115 pounds and put the odds of it falling on someone’s head at “one in a billion.”
The successful descent of ERS-2 marks a significant milestone for the ESA, as they have committed to leaving zero debris in space from their missions by 2030. By ensuring that defunct satellites safely return to Earth, the agency is taking proactive steps to mitigate space debris and protect both human life and other operational satellites in orbit.
If ERS-2 had been left to continue spinning around the globe instead of being deorbited, it would have taken between 100 and 200 years for it to fall back to Earth. The controlled descent of the satellite demonstrates the ESA’s commitment to responsible space exploration and their dedication to maintaining a sustainable space environment.
As the remnants of ERS-2 now rest at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, scientists and engineers at the ESA can reflect on the satellite’s remarkable contributions to our understanding of Earth. Its data has undoubtedly paved the way for future advancements in Earth observation and disaster monitoring.
The safe plunge into the Pacific Ocean concludes the chapter of ERS-2’s mission, but it also highlights the ongoing efforts to ensure that space exploration remains safe and sustainable. With each successful deorbiting, the ESA moves closer to achieving their goal of zero debris in space, setting a positive example for other space agencies around the world.
