ESA Cluster

Last night, at 00:00, we have switched off the payload on all the remaining spacecraft and this morning we have successfully downlinked all the remaining science data on-board.

With the reentry of its first of four satellites, it's time to bid our Cluster mission farewell. After 24 years in space, this marks the end of science observations for the prolific mission. esa.int/Science_Explor…

With the reentry complete, we're hoping to learn more soon about the results of an airborne observation experiment. With the plane three hours from land, we wait patiently for further information.
We’ll be back tomorrow with an update. More info via our blog 👉 blogs.esa.int/rocketscience/…
For now, thank you for following and goodnight!

Right about now, Cluster's Salsa satellite is taking the plunge into Earth's atmosphere.

Farewell, Salsa! Thank you for your service!🫡

A few minutes ago, the Cluster operations team successfully listened one final time for Salsa via the Estrack ground station in Kourou.
Communication with the satellite has now reached its end.

With just one hour to go until reentry, find out what we're doing and why 👇 esa.int/Science_Explor…

🆕 Latest news on Salsa. The satellite is expected to reenter at 20:47 CEST (18:47 UTC) today, with an uncertainty of just four seconds either way.
Follow our live blog for the latest updates 👉 blogs.esa.int/rocketscience/…

Everything you need to know about our world-first targeted reentry, taking place this evening 👇
youtube.com/watch?v=KFNLzU…

It's the final dance for Salsa 💃

The satellite has just gone to the furthest point in its orbit around Earth one last time and is now heading back towards our planet for the big finale.

🆕 Latest news on Salsa. The satellite is expected to reenter at 20:48 CEST (18:48 UTC) on 8 September 2024, with an uncertainty of two minutes either way 👇
blogs.esa.int/rocketscience/…

We're getting closer and closer to waving this satellite a goodbye forever 🥹

Salsa spotted! 🛰️🔭

Our in-house planetary defence team turned their attention to the asteroid-lookalike Cluster satellite as it dips deeper and deeper into Earth's atmosphere.

Salsa will soon be taking a plunge into Earth's atmosphere ☁️🛰️

Not much of the 550 kg satellite will survive the reentry. If small parts do survive, they will make a splashdown in a remote area of the Pacific Ocean.

For updates see our blog 👉 blogs.esa.int/rocketscience/

Cluster was never designed to last for as long as 24 years, nor to perform a targeted reentry. And yet, here we are.

On 8 September, the first of four Cluster satellites is plunging back into Earth’s atmosphere. Here's everything you need to know 👇
esa.int/Science_Explor…

Here's what we expect will happen to the 550 kg Salsa satellite on 8 September, during a ‘targeted reentry’ in Earth’s atmosphere, a first-of-its-kind manoeuvre 👇

Salsa re-entry: the predicted final trajectory towards burn up in the atmosphere on the 8th of September at 17:49:50 UTC +/- 1.5 hrs

🚨 Salsa is currently expected to reenter atmosphere between 18:20 and 21:20 CEST on 8 September.

🤔 How do mission operators pin down this window? Find out here 👉 blogs.esa.int/rocketscience/…

🆕 After 24 years in space, it's almost time to say goodnight to our historic mission.
🛰️ 1st of 4 Cluster satellites to reenter Earth's atmosphere
🗓️ 8 September 2024
🌎 South Pacific Ocean Uninhabited Area

More 👉 esa.int/Science_Explor…

The Cluster Flight Control Team lead by Beatriz Abascal (center front row) under the responsibility of the @esaoperations @ESA_Cluster Spacecraft Operations Manager Bruno Sousa (center back)

The satellites are naturally falling down to Earth, but with this manoeuvre we are ensuring that the re-entry of this particular satellite (the first one to re-enter) takes place in a more predictable way, minimizing any chance of damage on ground.

It is a small manoeuvre of 1,371 m/s, but we phase the satellite such that it reaches the final orbit with a steep perigee decrease, which ensures a swift capture by the atmosphere in a pre-defined and uninhabited and low traffic region, in the South Pacific Ocean. Our current prediction for final re-entry of this satellite will be on the 9th of September 24 at 18:00 UTC.

The satellites will continue their joint science mission until the 30th of September. Satellite 2 will still contribute with measurements until closer to its re-entry as long as it has enough power to operate.

The plots in the image show the acceleration as measured by the accelerometers and the temperature of the thrusters as they fire. The remaining satellites will re-enter in 25 (satellite 1) and 26 (satellites 3 and 4), thus no remains of the mission will stay in space after these dates. #ClusterMissionEnd #CleanSpace