It has been reported that the “dead” satellite that NASA launched into space about 40 years ago will fall to Earth. The satellite named Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) reportedly re-entered Earth after spending 38 years in space. The space agency said the risk of any crash being “very low”.
38-year-old NASA satellite ERBS comes to Earth
Launched into space with the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1984, Earth Radiation Budget Satellite returns to Earth long after its mission is complete. Expressing that most of the 5400-kilogram satellite will burn on re-entry, NASA believes it will not cause any damage.
The NASA satellite, which began its mission in 1984, was used until 2005 to collect ozone and atmospheric measurements. According to NASA’s statement, ERBS will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere on Sunday and will disappear in 17 hours.
The scientists used the data collected by the ERBS to study how Earth collects and radiates solar energy. Although NASA thought that within two years the satellite would have accomplished the mission, it was surprised by its data collection by 2005.
The task with which ERBS was launched was notable for several reasons. Sally Ride became the first American woman to fly into space, while Kathryn Sullivan became the first American woman to perform a spacewalk. The famous Challenger disaster also occurred two years later, in 1986.
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