Produced by: Tarun Mishra
The European Space Agency’s (ESA) satellite Salsa is scheduled to re-enter Earth's atmosphere on September 8, 2024, after 24 years of operation. Launched in 2000, Salsa was part of the Cluster mission designed to study the sun-Earth connection.
Credit: ESA
Salsa was one of four satellites in the Cluster mission, which aimed to explore Earth's magnetic environment. It will be the first of the four to re-enter the atmosphere, marking the end of its operational life.
Credit: ESA
The re-entry will occur over the South Pacific Ocean in a controlled manner, ensuring the satellite burns up during descent. The target area is a remote section of the ocean, minimizing risk to populated regions.
Credit: ESA
Scientists will be on hand in a small plane to collect data on the satellite's disintegration. This information aims to improve safety and sustainability in future satellite re-entries.
Credit: ESA
Salsa will descend from an altitude of approximately 110 kilometers to 80 kilometers. Most of the satellite is expected to disintegrate within a minute, with any surviving fragments falling into the ocean, further reducing risk.
Credit: ESA
Following Salsa’s re-entry, the remaining Cluster satellites—Rumba, Tango, and Samba—will enter a “caretaker” phase. Their re-entries are planned for 2025 and 2026, with continued monitoring to avoid collisions.
Representative pic
Initially designed for a two-year mission, the Cluster satellites have operated for nearly 24 years. Their extended mission has produced significant scientific data and over 3,200 research papers on space weather and the magnetosphere.
Credit: ESA
Bruno Sousa, Cluster Operations Manager, highlighted ESA’s commitment to safe and precise satellite re-entries, reflecting the agency's dedication to both operational longevity and safety in space missions.
Credit: ESA