A 1360-kilogram satellite is on its approach to colliding with the globe more than five years after it was launched into space. When the spacecraft re-enters Earth's atmosphere after completing its initial three-year mission in space, it will die in a fiery explosion.
Aeolus, an Earth Explorer research mission, was created to showcase cutting-edge space technology and ended up becoming one of the European Space Agency's (ESA's) weather satellites with the highest effect per observation.
According to the space agency, its laser is still operational.
However, as Aeolus orbits Earth at an altitude of 320 km and is now being tugged by Earth's thin atmosphere, it is now losing fuel and its tanks are almost empty. Plasma waves from the Sun that are washing past Earth are pushing the spaceship even further.
"Recently active solar activity has resulted in the satellite consuming even more fuel to stay in orbit. It's been like running against the wind for Aeolus, according to a statement from the European Space Agency.
The instruments have been put into a special mode to execute end-of-life tasks that will help to prepare the Aeolus-2 follow-on mission since the spacecraft shut down its science activity on April 30 of this year.
The European Space Agency will instruct Aeolus to naturally decline from its current height of 320 km to 280 km in the upcoming months, following which it will be gradually reduced to 150 km over the surface of the Earth when the death dive starts. The spacecraft will burn up when it drops to about 80 km, according to scientists.
"The possibility of a re-entry harming anyone is really remote. Aeolus is anticipated to cease operations by the end of August, according to an ESA release. The precise date will depend on how solar activity speeds up the process.
Engineers carefully considered how to place Aeolus in Earth's atmosphere to target broad ocean seas during reentry, greatly decreasing the amount of land that small shards could fall over, the space agency noted.
"In mid-June, the precise information regarding the reentry approach, the sequence of maneuvers and activities, as well as a more thorough timeframe, will be made public. For the time being, we may assume that we are aiming for the optimal ocean corridor for reentry, according to Tommaso Parrinello, Aeolus Mission Manager.
