Tag: Space Debris
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Draco: ESA’s Quest to Decode Fiery Spacecraft Reentry
Unraveling the mystery of fiery reentry When a spacecraft returns to Earth, its final moments are a tense blend of heat, shock, and rapid transformation. For decades, scientists have watched from a distance as capsules and satellites torch through the upper atmosphere. But what happens in the exact, high-stakes microseconds of reentry remains a complex…
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What happens in a spacecraft’s fiery reentry? ESA’s Draco mission
Unveiling the mystery of reentry Reentry is one of the most perilous phases of a space mission. As a spacecraft hurtles back from orbit, it encounters atmospheric air at temperatures that can melt metal and a speed that creates intense forces. The European Space Agency (ESA) is tackling a long-standing question: what exactly happens to…
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What Draco Reveals About a Spacecraft’s Fiery Reentry
Introduction: A mission to shed light on a fiery finale When a spacecraft completes its mission, the descent back to Earth is often the least understood phase. The European Space Agency (ESA) has greenlit a bold project to study exactly what happens during the fiery end of a satellite’s life: the Destructive Reentry Assessment Container…
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Russian Luch/Olymp Satellite Disintegrates in Graveyard Orbit, Raising Space Debris Fears
What happened to the Luch/Olymp satellite? A Russian satellite once used to inspect other spacecraft appears to have disintegrated in a graveyard orbit high above Earth, according to ground-based imagery and orbital monitoring data. The Luch/Olymp, launched in 2014, has long been described in security circles as part of Russia’s military space capabilities. Recent observations…
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Russian Inspector Satellite Breaks Up in Orbit, Debris Concerns
Overview: a Russian space asset that once observed others appears to fail A Russian satellite once used to inspect other spacecraft appears to have disintegrated in a graveyard orbit high above Earth, according to ground-based imagery and space-monitoring organizations. The Luch/Olymp spacecraft, launched in 2014, was among a pair of secretive military assets associated with…
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Russian Inspector Satellite Disintegrates in Orbit, Elevating Debris Concerns
Overview: A Mysterious Breakup in a Far-Frontier Orbit A Russian satellite once used to inspect other spacecraft appears to have disintegrated in a graveyard orbit high above the Earth. Ground-based imagery captured by observers indicates that the Luch/Olymp satellite, launched in 2014, broke apart while lingering in a distant, abandoned region of space often reserved…
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Venus to Welcome a Spectacular Meteor Shower This July After Ancient Asteroid Breakup
Overview: A Meteor Shower From Behind Venus Scientists predict a remarkable meteor shower visible in the Venusian sky this July, a celestial event shaped by the remnants of an ancient asteroid breakup. The breakup left behind a trail of dust that now intersects Venus’ orbital path, increasing the likelihood of a recurring meteor shower when…
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Earthquake Sensors That Track Space Junk Re-Entry: A New Front in Debris Tracking
Introduction: A surprising ally in space debris tracking Every day, the skies above us see the uncontrolled return of space debris — old satellites, spent rocket stages, and fragments that survived orbital re-entry. While orbital tracking focuses on predicting where these pieces come down, a growing field of study suggests that a very terrestrial tool…
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Earthquake Sensors Now Track Space Junk as It Re-enters Earth
Introduction: A New Role for Earthquake Sensors Earthquake monitoring networks aren’t just for quakes. In a surprising development, researchers are leveraging the world’s dense web of seismometers to track space junk as it crashes back to Earth. As thousands of tons of orbital debris circle our planet, a growing concern is where these fragments land…
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Earthquake sensors can track space junk that crashes back to Earth
Understanding the Problem: Space Debris and Re-entry Every day, on average, several large pieces of space hardware re-enter Earth’s atmosphere. From old satellites to spent rocket stages, these fragments can pose risks to people and property if they land in populated or ignored areas. Yet the precise locations of many re-entry events remain uncertain, hampering…