Satellite will crash through Earth’s atmosphere this week: Where could it land? How big is it?

A European Space Agency satellite is expected to crash through the atmosphere as it returns to Earth this week. The ESA says ERS-2 may land about 15 hours earlier or later than they expect, adding that it is difficult to pinpoint the exact time it will re-enter the planet.

The satellite weighs around 2,300 kilograms and is as big as a school bus. It is likely to break up into parts some 80 kilometers above the Earth’s surface, and most of these fragments will burn up in the atmosphere. The ESA says that these pieces will not contain any toxic or radioactive substances.

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What is a ‘natural return’ for a satellite?

The landing of ERS-2 is uncontrolled and unpredictable because it will go through what is known as a “natural return”. This refers to the process by which a satellite re-enters Earth’s atmosphere and returns to its surface due to natural forces such as atmospheric drag and gravitational effects, as opposed to its landing being controlled remotely.

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ERS-2 already used up the last of its fuel more than ten years ago, its batteries were depleted, and communication antenna and onboard electronics were switched off.

This was done to minimize the risk of disastrous explosions or collisions with other bodies that could have created a big amount of space debris. Without fuel or communications, there is no way to take control of the satellite as it hurtles back to earth.

What was the mission of ERS-2?

The satellite was launched in 1995, at that time the most sophisticated spacecraft that was developed by Europe to observe the Earth. It gathered data on the planet’s land surfaces, oceans, and polar caps. ERS-2 also monitored natural disasters such as flooding and earthquakes.