In a groundbreaking operation, the European Space Agency (ESA) is set to guide its dead Aeolus wind satellite back to Earth, marking a significant step in spaceflight history.
Aeolus has been orbiting Earth since 2018, becoming the first spacecraft to measure our planet’s winds from space.
However, after outliving its planned operational lifetime, the spacecraft has nearly exhausted its fuel, prompting ESA to undertake a daring mission to safely return it to Earth.
The ambitious plan involves using the remaining bit of fuel onboard Aeolus to initiate a series of maneuvers starting on Monday, July 24.
By lowering its altitude from 174 miles (280 kilometers) to 155 miles (250 kilometers), the spacecraft will be placed in an elliptical orbit.
Three days later, another set of maneuvers will further lower the altitude to 93 miles (150 kilometers).
The critical moment arrives on Friday when ESA scientists give Aeolus its final commands. The craft will perform maneuvers to bring its altitude down to approximately 62 miles (100 kilometers) over Earth.
Five hours later, Aeolus will reenter Earth’s atmosphere, descending over the Atlantic Ocean, closely monitored by ESA radar tracking.
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Guiding Aeolus Safely: A Spaceflight Milestone
ESA’s Spacecraft Operations Manager, Isabel Rojo Escude-Cofiner, explained the intricacies of the operation, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of assisted re-entry.
This pioneering mission has no historical precedents, making it a remarkable achievement in the realm of spaceflight.
One of the primary challenges is the retrograde nature of the maneuvers. Aeolus will use its thrusters in the opposite direction of its orbit around Earth, ensuring a controlled descent.
While the risk of collision with other spacecraft is low due to Aeolus’ orbit in a sparsely populated zone, ESA has contingency plans to divert the craft’s descent if necessary.
Before executing any maneuvers, potential conjunction risks are carefully evaluated to ensure the safety and success of the operation.
Should the operation encounter any setbacks, Aeolus will follow its natural, unguided reentry path, the original destiny envisioned when the satellite was created.
The mission’s success holds significant implications for future space endeavors and sets a precedent for safely returning other space-based equipment in the future.
Aeolus was once considered an “impossible mission” due to the numerous challenges ESA overcame to make it operational.
Now, as the ESA prepares to guide it safely back to Earth, the mission stands as a testament to human ingenuity and determination in exploring and understanding our planet and the cosmos beyond.
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Source: Space