Europe to Build Satellite for Deliberate Destruction in Earth's Atmosphere

paris - European Space Agency (ESA) plans to launch a satellite named Draco in 2026 in order to measure the effects of its deliberate destruction in Earth's atmosphere.

European Space Agency (ESA) is intentionally constructing a satellite, named Draco, to undergo destruction in Earth's atmosphere. The spacecraft is set to be launched in 2026 to gather data on the final moments of a satellite during reentry. According to ESA, despite nearly 70 years of space exploration where approximately 10,000 satellites and rocket parts have disintegrated in the atmosphere, there is still limited knowledge about the fiery demise of a satellite.

The mission, acronym for Destructive Reentry Assessment Container Object, aims to measure the effects of destructive reentry. Weighing 150 kilograms and costing around 17 million euros, Draco houses a container designed to survive the reentry process. Sensors and cameras within the container will conduct various measurements during the descent.

ESA's Stijn Lemmens mentioned the inability of laboratories and wind tunnels to accurately replicate the speed, forces, and motions of an uncontrolled reentry. This mission follows a similar one conducted by ESA in 2013, focusing on enhanced precision and data collection.

The ultimate goal of the mission is the complete disintegration of satellites to prevent any surviving debris from posing risks on the ground. Additionally, the removal of old satellites from orbit is crucial to avoid potential collisions with operational satellites, contributing to space debris reduction.