"School Bus-Sized 'Grandfather Satellite' Set to Plummet to Earth"

The pioneering European satellite ERS-2, launched in 1995, is set to make an uncontrolled re-entry into Earth's atmosphere after ending operations in 2011. Most of the two-tonne satellite is expected to burn up, with any surviving debris likely to land in the ocean. ERS-2 and its predecessor, ERS-1, are considered the "grandfathers of Earth observation in Europe," and their technology has paved the way for current Earth-monitoring satellites. The re-entry highlights the need for stricter space debris mitigation guidelines, as the accumulation of derelict objects in low Earth orbit poses a threat to operational satellites.