5,000-pound satellite expected to fall to Earth this week

In a celestial spectacle, the European Space Agency (ESA) is closely monitoring the impending reentry of the Earth-observing ERS-2 satellite, set to occur on Wednesday morning. The satellite, launched on April 21, 1995, has completed its mission and is expected to burn up in Earth’s atmosphere.

The ESA’s Space Debris Office, in collaboration with an international surveillance network, is tracking the satellite’s trajectory, predicting its reentry at 11:32 a.m. ET with a 4.5-hour window of uncertainty. Solar activity, nearing the peak of its 11-year cycle, adds complexity to pinpointing the exact time.

Weighing approximately 5,057 pounds (2,294 kilograms), the ERS-2 satellite is on par with other space debris that reenters Earth’s atmosphere regularly. At an altitude of around 50 miles (80 kilometers), the satellite is expected to disintegrate, with most fragments incinerating in the atmosphere. The ESA assures that any potential fragments reaching Earth will pose no harm, likely falling into the ocean.

The ERS-2, alongside its twin ERS-1, played a pivotal role in collecting vital data on Earth’s polar caps, oceans, and land surfaces since 1995. Although its mission concluded in 2011, the satellite’s data continues to contribute to scientific research. The ESA emphasizes that the risk of injury from space debris is extremely low, with odds less than 1 in 100 billion annually, significantly lower than common household accident risks.