European Space Agency mission will intentionally burn next satellite to collect reentry data

ESA's DRACO mission will intentionally burn a satellite in 2027 to gather reentry data, aiding future zero-debris spacecraft designs.

: The European Space Agency's DRACO mission aims to study satellite reentry by intentionally burning a satellite in 2027. DRACO, part of ESA's Zero Debris approach, will gather data to inform future satellite designs that disintegrate fully during reentry. The satellite will carry 200 sensors and four cameras to capture data and footage of the breakup process. ESA awarded the contract to Deimos, and the mission faces technical challenges such as capsule survivability.

The European Space Agency is planning to reduce space debris by launching the DRACO mission in 2027, which involves intentionally burning up a satellite to collect reentry data. This mission is part of ESA's Zero Debris initiative aimed at stopping new space debris creation by 2030.

DRACO will be about the size of a washing machine and weigh 200 kg, equipped with 200 sensors and four cameras to record its destruction. A special 40 cm capsule within DRACO will survive reentry and transmit data before splashing down in the ocean.

The mission is contracted to Deimos and faces challenges like ensuring the capsule can deploy its parachute while potentially spinning. Additionally, scientists will only have approximately 20 minutes to transmit data from the capsule to a geostationary satellite before it hits the water.

Space debrisDRACOESA