"ESA's Innovative Approach Ensures Safe Reentry for Defunct Wind Satellite"

The European Space Agency (ESA) is planning an unprecedented "assisted" reentry for its wind satellite, Aeolus, which has been losing altitude and is nearly out of fuel. The satellite, designed to measure global winds, was not built with controlled reentry technology, so the ESA team will attempt to guide it towards a controlled area for atmospheric reentry to minimize the risk of debris falling on populated areas. The majority of the satellite will burn up, but some debris may reach Earth, with the goal of landing in remote areas. The reentry is expected to take place between the end of July and the beginning of August.