The European Space Agency (ESA) successfully executed its first targeted reentry of a satellite, safely guiding the Salsa satellite back into Earth's atmosphere on September 8, 2024.
This pioneering maneuver marks a significant milestone in ESA's efforts to tackle the growing challenge of space debris. The mission is part of the agency’s broader Zero Debris initiative, aimed at ensuring that all ESA spacecraft are safely deorbited by 2030. Salsa was one of four satellites in the Cluster mission, which has contributed over 20 years of valuable data on Earth’s magnetosphere and space weather.
Details of Salsa’s Reentry: Time, Location, and Observation
Salsa’s reentry took place at 2:47 p.m. Eastern time over a remote part of the South Pacific Ocean, west of Chile. This location was chosen to minimize the risk of any debris reaching populated areas. Unlike uncontrolled reentries, where the time and location of descent are difficult to predict, ESA’s precise targeting ensured full control of the satellite’s return to Earth. This level of accuracy showcases the agency’s growing capability in managing the safe disposal of its spacecraft. To provide real-time updates on the event, ESA shared details via X (formerly Twitter), stating:
Last night, the first satellite in our Cluster quartet safely came back down to Earth in a world-first ‘targeted reentry’.
The spacecraft, known as ‘Salsa’, reentered Earth’s atmosphere at 19:27 BST/20:47 CEST over a remote area of the South Pacific Ocean.
Not only has Cluster… pic.twitter.com/joLYtNpFnr
— European Space Agency (@esa) September 9, 2024
Additionally, ESA deployed an observation aircraft from Easter Island to capture the reentry event. The aircraft was equipped with 16 instruments, which provided detailed data on how the satellite burned up during its descent. One of the captured images shows Salsa as a bright dot against the sky, disintegrating as it reentered the atmosphere.
Insights Gained from the Reentry Process
The targeted reentry of Salsa was not only a technological achievement but also a scientific opportunity. Benjamin Bastida-Virgili, a space debris systems engineer at ESA, emphasized the value of the observations gathered: “We will better understand what’s happening on this reentry, how the satellite burns, what is burning at which moment and which altitude.” This data will help improve satellite breakup models, which are crucial for predicting how future spacecraft will behave during reentry.
The detailed observations from Salsa’s descent will inform future missions, including the planned reentries of the remaining Cluster satellites—Rumba, Samba, and Tango—between October 2025 and August 2026. Each reentry will provide more opportunities to test and refine ESA’s predictive models, further enhancing the agency’s capability to manage satellite disposal in a safe and controlled manner.
Pioneering Space Debris Management
Salsa’s successful reentry is a critical step in ESA’s Zero Debris initiative, which addresses the increasing problem of space debris in Earth’s orbit. With the growing number of satellites being launched, it is essential for space agencies to develop responsible strategies for satellite disposal. ESA’s leadership in this area sets a new standard for sustainable space operations.
The Cluster mission, launched in 2000, contributed significantly to our understanding of Earth’s magnetosphere and the effects of solar storms. Philippe Escoubet, Cluster mission manager, remarked, “For over two decades, Cluster has shown us time and time again how important the magnetosphere is in shielding us from the solar wind.” The successful completion of Salsa’s mission, and its subsequent safe reentry, highlights ESA’s ability to not only conduct groundbreaking scientific research but also responsibly manage the lifecycle of its spacecraft.
As space exploration continues to expand, the lessons learned from Salsa’s reentry will play a vital role in shaping future satellite disposal practices, ensuring that space remains accessible and safe for generations to come.