Cluster satellite reenters Earth's atmosphere

The first recorded observation of a satellite reentry from a high-speed orbit, taken from a plane in bright daylight!

At 20:47 CEST on 8 September 2024, the first of four Cluster satellites (this one affectionately known as 'Salsa') returned home, burning up in Earth’s atmosphere in an uncontrolled ‘targeted reentry’ over a remote area of the South Pacific Ocean.

Throughout history, so far about 10 000 intact satellites and rocket bodies have reentered the atmosphere. Yet we still lack a clear view on what actually happens during a reentry. 

Together with partners at Astros Solutions, ESA sent a plane to observe Salsa’s reentry live from the sky to observe a satellite class and reentry conditions which have never been accessible before. The plane successfully witnessed the reentry of Salsa, collecting rare data on how and when a satellite breaks up. This information will be used to make satellite reentries safer and more sustainable in the future.

The ROSIE-Salsa observation mission is a joint effort, with academic partners from University of Stuttgart (IRS/HEFDiG), Comenius University in Bratislava (CUB), the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) and industrial partners from Hypersonic Technology Göttingen (HTG) and Astros Solutions in close cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA).

[Image description: A black-and-white image showing Earth's surface at the bottom and a bright dot in the distance above Earth's surface. At the top left of the image are three curved lines.]