Salsa satellite to make historic targeted re-entry to Earth

Salsa, a European satellite developed with the help of UK scientists, is set to make its re-entry to Earth after nearly 25 years in space. This event, scheduled for Sunday around 1948 UK time, will be the first-ever targeted re-entry for a satellite, landing in a sparsely populated area of the South Pacific. The satellite is part of the Cluster mission, which includes three other spacecraft: Rumba, Samba, and Tango, launched 24 years ago to study space weather. The Cluster II mission was initially expected to last only two years but remarkably extended its operational life by over two decades. This longevity has allowed the mission to contribute significantly to scientific knowledge, resulting in more than 3,200 published papers. The data collected has been crucial for understanding the Earth's magnetosphere and its interactions with solar wind, which can lead to space weather phenomena affecting communication systems and power grids on Earth. As Salsa prepares for its fiery descent, the National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC) will monitor the re-entry to ensure safety. Most of the satellite is expected to burn up upon re-entry, with any remaining fragments likely to land in uninhabited areas, posing minimal risk to human life or property. This responsible management of satellite re-entries is essential for reducing space debris and ensuring the safety of future space missions. The mission's end is bittersweet for those involved, as it marks the conclusion of a significant scientific endeavor. The legacy of the Cluster mission will continue through the high-quality data archive it leaves behind, which will be utilized for future research and understanding of space weather and its impacts on Earth.