Story thread · 3 reports / 2 sources

Cluster's final reentry strengthens data for safer, more sustainable satellite design

phys.org · 12dShare

The Cluster mission danced its final dance as Tango reentered the atmosphere Sept. 1 at 11:30:31 p.m. CEST. The end of the Cluster mission in 2024 marked the start of the reentry data-collection campaign. After four targeted reentries, this is now a proven method of safe end-of-life disposal. It also enabled repeated observation of the reentries by a plane full of scientists, creating a unique reentry data set that will improve our understanding of the destructive process and inform the design of safer, more sustainable satellites in the future.

First report: Samba’s fiery farewell recorded — esa.int, 14d