A European Space Agency satellite hurtles toward Earth

world News

by Jesse O'Neill

An out-of-control bus-sized satellite is expected to hurtle through Earth's atmosphere on Wednesday morning after spending nearly three decades in space monitoring the planet.

ESA's 5,550-pound ERS-2 satellite is expected to break into pieces and disintegrate upon arrival, which was expected at about 11 a.m. EDT Wednesday morning, ESA said. Latest forecasts.

Any remaining fragments are expected to fall into the ocean, according to the European Space Agency.

“The risks associated with the return of the satellites are very low,” officials said.

The agency said it is “impossible” to know exactly when and where a free-falling satellite will enter the atmosphere because its return is “natural” and not controlled by humans.

ERS-2 was launched in 1995 as “the most advanced European Earth observation spacecraft ever built,” according to the European Space Agency.

Officials said it had “collected a wealth of valuable data” about oceans, continents and ice caps and detected natural disasters in remote parts of the planet.

However, its mission ended in 2011 and it was gradually removed from orbit over a period of 13 years in preparation for its return to Earth.

Satellite images hurtling towards the planet They were arrested By HEO Robotics last week.