Cluster mission set to end with reentry over South Pacific

Written by Copernical Team Thursday, 22 August 2024 07:00

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Cluster satellite reentering Earth's atmosphere

On 8 September 2024, the first of four satellites that make up ESA’s Cluster mission will reenter Earth’s atmosphere over the South Pacific Ocean Uninhabited Area.

This marks the end of the historic mission, over 24 years after it was sent into space to measure Earth’s magnetic environment. Though the remaining three satellites will also stop making scientific observations, discoveries using existing mission data are expected for years to come.

This ‘targeted reentry’ is the first of its kind. ESA’s efforts to ensure a clean end to the Cluster mission go beyond international standards, making the agency a world-leader in

A brighter future

Cluster’s reentry follows those of ESA’s Aeolus and ERS-2 Earth observation missions. ESA is setting a precedent for a responsible approach to reducing the every-increasing problem of space debris and uncontrolled reentries.

With this targeted reentry, ESA is again pioneering a new strategy to reduce its environmental impact by disposing of its missions more safely and sustainably than envisaged at the time of their design.

“By studying how Salsa burns up, which parts might survive, for how long and in what state, we will learn much about how to build ‘zero-debris’ satellites,” explains Tim Flohrer, Head of ESA’s Space Debris Office.

“The lessons learned from this activity will help turn targeted reentries into a safe and well-understood option for the disposal of other space missions in similar orbits, such as Smile and Proba-3.”

What’s next?

Following Salsa’s reentry, the three remaining Cluster satellites will enter ‘caretaker’ mode; whilst they will not be making scientific measurements, operators will be monitoring them to minimise the risk of collision with other satellites or Earth itself.

Bruno’s team will adjust the orbit of Rumba (Cluster 1) in August 2024 in preparation for a similar targeted reentry in November 2025. They will then manoeuvre Samba (Cluster 3) and Tango (Cluster 4) in November 2024 ready for Cluster’s final goodbye in August 2026.