"Europe's ERS-2 Satellite Suffers Damage and Navigates Space Debris in Final Orbits"
Radar images from the Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques FHR in Germany reveal damage on the European Remote Sensing (ERS-2) satellite during its final orbits before reentering Earth's atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean. The images show the buckling and bending of the satellite's solar array, which occurred earlier than expected and could have implications for understanding spacecraft behavior during reentry. The European Space Agency is assessing precise data regarding the reentry to improve forecasts of future natural reentries, as space agencies and companies are moving towards controlled reentries to minimize debris risk.
