Video: 00:03:29

Mission complete. ESA’s second European Remote Sensing (ERS-2) satellite has reentered Earth’s atmosphere over the North Pacific Ocean. The satellite returned at 18:17 CET (17:17 UTC) between Alaska and Hawaii.

ERS-2 was launched almost 30 years ago, on 21 April 1995. Together with ERS-1, it provided invaluable long-term data on Earth’s land surfaces, ocean temperatures, ozone layer and polar ice extent that revolutionised our understanding of the Earth system.

ERS-2’s reentry was ‘natural’. ESA used the last of its fuel, emptied its batteries and lowered the satellite from its altitude of 785 km to 573 km. This reduced the

Week in images: 19-23 February 2024

Discover our week through the lens

Image: The mystery from Zanzibar

Manchester MA (SPX) Feb 22, 2024
In a landmark collaboration, Blues, renowned for its prowess in Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology, has teamed up with Skylo Technologies, a prominent Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) service operator, to unveil Starnote. This innovative extension to Blues' flagship product, Notecard, is set to redefine satellite data connectivity, offering an efficient and cost-effective solution for

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Feb 22, 2024
In an ambitious stride towards mitigating the escalating issue of orbital debris, Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (NASDAQ: RKLB) has successfully launched its 44th Electron rocket, carrying a satellite designed to pioneer methods of space junk removal. The mission, aptly named "On Closer Inspection," saw the deployment of the Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J) satellite from Rocket L

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 22, 2024
In a groundbreaking move poised to redefine the dynamics of space station robotics, California's innovative startup, GITAI, has embarked on a mission to test its cutting-edge autonomous robotic arm system, dubbed S2, on the International Space Station (ISS). This technological marvel, consisting of a 1.5-meter long pair of mechanical arms, was transported to the orbiting lab aboard Northrop Grum

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 22, 2024
NASA's OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft has successfully navigated its closest approach to the Sun. This maneuver, known as perihelion, brought the spacecraft 25 million miles closer to the Sun than its initial design parameters. The spacecraft, formerly known as OSIRIS-REx, undertook a critical adjustment during this perihelion on January 2, repositioning one of its solar arrays to shield vital component

Berlin, Germany (SPX) Feb 21, 2024
Emnify, a supplier of cloud-native IoT connectivity solutions, has officially launched the SuperNetwork SatPlus, marking the introduction of the first-ever converged cellular and satellite IoT connectivity available through a single emnify IoT eSIM. This groundbreaking offering is a part of the emnify SuperNetwork, a premier service in IoT cellular connectivity that boasts multi-network coverage

Vienna VA (SPX) Feb 22, 2024
Spire Global, Inc. (NYSE: SPIR), a leading provider of satellite data solutions, has been awarded two significant framework contracts by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), amounting to a maximum overall budget of euro 8.4 million. These contracts mark a continuation and expansion of Spire's collaboration with EMSA, building on a partnership that has provided crucial satellite automatic

Paris (SPX) Feb 22, 2024
In a significant stride towards expanding Europe's capabilities in the burgeoning small satellite launch market, the European Space Agency (ESA) and PLD Space have inked a deal to co-fund the development of a cutting-edge payload accommodation system. This collaboration is set to enhance the flexibility and competitiveness of satellite deployments, leveraging the advanced capabilities of PLD Spa