Watching Salsa’s reentry live from the sky

Written by Copernical Team Monday, 26 August 2024 10:54

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Cluster satellite reentering Earth's atmosphere

On 8 September 2024, the first of four Cluster satellites will return home and burn up in Earth’s atmosphere in an uncontrolled ‘targeted reentry’ over a remote area of the South Pacific Ocean.

In the nearly 70 years of spaceflight about 10 000 intact satellites and rocket bodies have reentered the atmosphere. Yet we still lack a clear view on what actually happens during a reentry.

An airborne observation experiment will now attempt to witness the ‘Salsa’ (Cluster 2) reentry. Scientists on board a small plane will try to collect rare data on how and when a satellite breaks up,

The in-flight experiment

Ground track of Salsa's reentry on 8 September 2024

It’s not easy to conduct an airborne, experimental observation campaign at a location picked because of its remoteness.

“The airborne observation mission ‘ROSIE-Salsa‘ is a joint effort of academic partners from University of Stuttgart (IRS/HEFDiG), Comenius University in Bratislava (CUB), University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) and industrial partners from Hypersonic Technology Göttingen (HTG) and Astros Solutions, in close cooperation with ESA,” says Jiří Silha, CEO of Astros Solutions.

“It is a very challenging mission due to the unpredictable nature of reentry events, which makes the reentry break-up prediction as well as the planning of the aircraft positioning for the best observation very demanding. However, with experts in both science and technical preparation, our team consists of exceptionally capable people who will ensure that once the object is in sight, we will get all the relevant scientific data we need.”

The plane will be mounted with the scientific instruments in Australia before making a test flight to check if everything is ready for the big event. Then the team moves to Easter Island to set up communications there and wait until it’s time to fly out and meet up with Salsa.

Onboard the plane will be the science lead from IRS/HEFDiG, the mission lead from UniSQ and mission participants from CUB and Astros Solutions, hoping to catch the reentry live. HTG supports the scientific analysis and modelling of the data as well as support the creation of the precise flight plan for the plane.