This week marks a significant turning point in the reentry process. End-of-life tests have actually ended. Aeolus will now start to naturally come down as Earths environment and gravity integrate to drag the satellite down from an elevation of 320 km to 280 km.
It actually has resembled running against the wind.
ESAs Aeolus satellite starts its descent into the atmosphere. Copyright: ESA– EOGB|Earth Observation Graphic Bureau
It was increasing dosages of space weather condition, in addition to fuel finally going out after Aeolus long outlasted its forecasted life time, that indicated we had to bring things to an end.
The Suns activity is increasing as we reach the peak of the current 11-year solar cycle. The space weather it produces can have a variety of unfavorable and potentially unsafe impacts in the world, humankind and our satellites in orbit. Copyright: ESA/Science Office, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
The countdown is genuinely on now for Aeolus as it begins its journey home.
For how long this takes will depend on several elements, including solar activity, which has been increase in current months.
What takes place next?
Our operations team will be keeping tabs on Aeolus elevation, and the status of the satellite, which will figure out whether we may continue to the next stage of the reentry..
ESAs Aeolus satellite begins its descent into the atmosphere. The area weather it creates can have a number of possibly hazardous and negative effects on Earth, mankind and our satellites in orbit.
Stay tuned as we capture up with some of the key people in the Aeolus group, and hear first hand about what it requires to fly– and lastly bring home– the keeper of the winds.
As we pointed out in the last blog, this is a very first of its kind effort that may not work. In the event we need to abort, Aeolus will continue its uncontrolled descent as initially planned.
Aeolus will now begin to naturally come down as Earths environment and gravity combine to drag the satellite down from an altitude of 320 km to 280 km.
For now, we wait.
In the meantime, over the coming weeks, well reveal more about the effort and complex science that goes into planning and trying an unique end for a pioneering objective.
