New Delhi: After nearly 24 years of valuable contributions to our understanding of Earth’s magnetic shield, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) satellite, Salsa, is set to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere on September 8, 2024. Launched in 2000, Salsa was part of the pioneering Cluster mission, which involved a constellation of four satellites designed to study the sun-Earth connection. Salsa will be the first of these satellites to re-enter, making its fiery descent over the South Pacific Ocean.
Cluster Mission and Salsa’s Legacy
The Cluster mission, launched in 2000, was a groundbreaking initiative aimed at investigating the complex interactions between the sun and Earth. The mission’s four satellites Salsa, Rumba, Tango, and Samba worked together to provide detailed data on the Earth’s magnetosphere and its interactions with solar wind. Originally planned for just two years, the mission has far exceeded its expected lifespan, operating for nearly 24 years and contributing to over 3,200 research papers.
Salsa’s Controlled Re-Entry
ESA has emphasized that Salsa’s re-entry will be meticulously controlled to ensure safety. The satellite will descend from an altitude of about 110 kilometers to 80 kilometers, with a planned re-entry over a remote area of the South Pacific Ocean. “On September 8, 2024, Salsa will return home and burn up in Earth’s atmosphere in an uncontrolled ‘targeted reentry,'” ESA announced. The agency’s commitment to space safety is reflected in this controlled descent, minimizing the risk to populated areas.
Bruno Sousa, Cluster Operations Manager, highlighted the importance of this operation: “Adjusting Salsa’s orbit for a controlled re-entry reflects our commitment to both safety and precision. This careful planning will ensure the spacecraft burns up as it re-enters the atmosphere.”
During the re-entry, most of the spacecraft is expected to disintegrate within a minute, although a few fragments may survive. ESA’s decision to target open waters in the South Pacific significantly reduces the risk of debris falling over land, ensuring the re-entry is as safe as possible. Scientists on board a small plane will also attempt to collect rare data on how and when a satellite breaks up, contributing to safer and more sustainable satellite re-entries in the future.
Future of the Cluster Satellites
Following Salsa’s re-entry, the remaining Cluster satellites Rumba, Tango, and Samba will enter a “caretaker” phase. Each will eventually re-enter the atmosphere under slightly different circumstances, providing a unique opportunity for scientists to study these events. Rumba is scheduled for a controlled re-entry in November 2025, with Samba and Tango to follow in 2026.
Despite the end of their scientific operations, ESA will continue to monitor these satellites to prevent potential collisions with other spacecraft or Earth.
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