
"Dead European 'TIE Fighter' Satellite Plunges into Earth's Atmosphere Today"
The European Remote Sensing 2 (ERS-2) satellite, set to re-enter Earth's atmosphere today, has drawn attention from Star Wars fans who liken its appearance to an Imperial TIE fighter. Originally launched in 1995, the satellite was equipped for Earth observation tasks but is now expected to break apart upon re-entry. Despite the social media buzz, the satellite's resemblance to the fictional spacecraft is due to its solar panels and instruments, and it served important scientific purposes during its operational life.
