Recently, the ESA mission Aeolus has provided an interesting example of an unexpected end of mission. Launched in 2018, Aeolus was designed as a wind-mapping satellite, whose mission was to collect data about the Earth’s wind patterns. However, after only three years in orbit, the satellite experienced a sudden and unexpected reentry back into our atmosphere.

In this blog entry, we will be exploring the reentry breakdown of the Aeolus satellite. Aeolus was the first space mission to use a laser-based Doppler wind lidar to measure wind speed and direction. Despite its success in collecting data on the Earth’s winds, it has recently come to an end due to an unexpected reentry back into our atmosphere. The cause of the reentry is yet to be determined, but it is possible that a malfunction in the satellite’s propulsion system is to blame. This incident highlights the fragile nature of space missions and the importance of proper maintenance and monitoring.

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source: Phys.org