European Satellite Set to Plummet to Earth This Week | Technology News

The satellite has been falling from its operational altitude of 320 kilometres above the planet’s surface since June 19, after completing its mission. As soon as it reached 280 kilometres on Monday, July 24, ESA mission operators used the last of Aeolus’s fuel to perform the first of many critical manoeuvres that will help steer the satellite slowly back to our planet.

The last manoeuvre is scheduled to happen on Friday, July 28, when the operators will guide the satellite from an altitude of 150 kilometres to just 120 kilometres. At this point, the satellite will begin reentering the atmosphere. At the height of around 80 kilometres, most of the satellite would be burning up but a few pieces might reach Earth’s surface. If all goes according to the plan, this shouldn’t pose any threat since the mission controllers are aiming for a remote part of the Atlantic ocean.

The Atlantic Ocean provides the best satellite visibility during the final reentry phase, according to the European Space Agency. The agency also claims that the general risk from reentering satellites is quite low and that this attempt will reduce that risk by 42 times.

Named after the keeper of winds in Greek mythology, Aeolus was launched in 2018 and was the first satellite to directly measure wind speeds and directions all over the globe, which allowed scientists to improve worldwide weather forecasts.