Satellite crash – live: Out-of-control ERS-2 falls to Earth

An image of the ERS-2 satellite as it heads towards Earth (HEO/ ESA)

An out-of-control satellite has fallen to Earth, nearly three decades after it launched.

The ERS-2 satellite, which served as an observation platform after launching in 1995, landed in the Pacific Ocean between Alaska and Hawaii on Wednesday.

The European Space Agency (ESA) said the risks associated with the two-tonne satellite were “very low”, however there was still a chance that fragments could hit populated areas.

Mirko Albani from ESA’s Earth Observation Ground Segment Department said: “It’s worth highlighting that none of the elements that might re-enter the atmosphere (and reach the surface) are radioactive or toxic.”

The predicted time for the satellite entering the Earth’s atmosphere was originally 3.49pm GMT (10.49 EST) on Wednesday, however it remained orbiting the planet for up to an hour.

You can follow all the latest news, updates and developments of the ERS-2 satellite as it heads towards Earth in our live blog below.

Key points

• How dangerous is the ERS-2 satellite falling to Earth
• Where did the ERS-2 satellite fall to Earth
• More on ERS-2’s mission

[22 February 2024 06:24 · Vishwam Sankaran]

What fallen satellite helped study over its lifetime

When the ERS-2 satellite was launched, it was the “most sophisticated Earth-observation spacecraft ever developed and launched by Europe,” according to the ESA.

The ERS satellites helped collect a treasure trove of data on Earth’s landmasses, including on the polar ice caps, oceans, and also helped monitor natural disasters and their aftermaths.

“They have provided us with new insights on our planet, the chemistry of our atmosphere, the behavior of our oceans, and the effects of mankind’s activity on our environment – creating new opportunities for scientific research and applications,” ESA said.

The ERS-2 satellite weighing as much as an adult rhino, crashed through the Earth’s atmosphere at 5:17 pm GMT.