ESA choreographs Cluster satellites for rare reentry observations

ESA is adjusting the trajectories of its Cluster satellites Samba and Tango so they re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere in close succession (Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, 2026) over a remote South Pacific region, enabling observations from a plane to capture rare data on how they heat, break up, and survive reentry. This data will improve reentry models and guide the design of safer, “design-for-demise” satellites. The effort builds on the 2024 Salsa observation and aims to inform a future Draco mission (2027) that will image reentry from the inside, contributing to safer space debris disposal and better predictive capabilities.