The European Space Agency (ESA) has disclosed an ambitious proposal to purposefully destroy a satellite as it reenters the Earth’s atmosphere. This novel approach, part of ESA’s Zero Debris Charter initiative, intends to acquire crucial data on how satellites break up after reentry, helping to the reduction of space litter.
The project, known as Destructive Reentry Assessment Container Object (DRACO), will launch a specially designed satellite in 2027. As the satellite descends to Earth’s atmosphere, its sensors and cameras will collect information on the disintegration process.
DRACO has a 40-centimeter capsule built to withstand the satellite’s destruction. As it falls into the water, this capsule will send the information it has gathered back to Earth. Deimos, an aeronautical engineering firm will build DRACO, which is about the size of a washing machine and weighs around 200kg. The satellite will include 200 sensors and four cameras, but no propulsion or navigation systems, as is typical with uncontrolled space garbage reentry. The capsule plunges into the ocean. This includes overcoming obstacles, like as deploying a parachute while falling through the air.
The DRACO mission is a significant step in addressing the growing issue of space debris. As more satellites are deployed into orbit, the buildup of dead satellites, rocket pieces, and other trash becomes a greater hazard to functioning spacecraft and future space exploration.