Authorities worldwide are closely monitoring the descent of a satellite scheduled to fall back to Earth today. While satellite reentries are routine, this event is notable due to the considerable size of the satellite, weighing nearly 2,300kg and measuring 12 meters in length and width.
Expected to disintegrate upon entering Earth’s atmosphere, only a fraction of the satellite’s original mass, estimated between 20 to 40 percent, is projected to reach the planet. The largest remnant anticipated to land weighs approximately 52kg.
Predictions by various agencies pinpoint three possible locations and times for the satellite’s fall. As the European Space Agency-managed satellite nears Earth, authorities aim to refine these estimates for accuracy.
According to the UAE’s Astronomy Centre, the satellite is forecasted to descend on February 21, 2024, at 12:57 GMT (4:57 pm UAE time), with a margin of error of plus or minus 5 hours. Conversely, the US Department of Defense suggests a fall time of 16:12 GMT (8:12 pm UAE time), with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 hours. The European Space Agency aligns with a descent time of 16:32 GMT (8:32 pm UAE time), also with a margin of error of plus or minus 5 hours. All three agencies concur that the satellite’s trajectory will pass over Saudi Arabia during its fall.
Named ERS-2, the European satellite was launched on April 21, 1995, for remote sensing purposes. Its operational lifespan lasted until July 4, 2011, when the European Space Agency utilized its remaining fuel to adjust its orbit, mitigating collision risks with other satellites. Without this adjustment, the satellite could have remained in space for another century.