All articles tagged with #satellite decommissioning
Landsat 7, a satellite that provided 25 years of Earth imaging, has been decommissioned, marking the end of an era in Earth observation. Its data contributed significantly to environmental monitoring and scientific research, and it will now drift in orbit for decades before reentry, while newer Landsat satellites continue to monitor the planet.
The European Space Agency (ESA) successfully conducted an "assisted reentry" maneuver for its Aeolus satellite, guiding its controlled descent back to Earth and reducing the risk of debris landing near populated areas. The satellite, which had been in orbit since 2018 and improved weather forecasts and climate models, retired in July and was intentionally deorbited over Antarctica. About 80% of the satellite burned up during reentry, with the remaining 20% safely landing in the ocean. With the increasing number of satellites in orbit, ESA is prioritizing safer satellite decommissioning to mitigate the risk of space debris.