Falling Spacecraft
Europe’s 2,425-pound GOCE satellite fell back to Earth on Nov. 10, 2013, after running out of fuel at the end of a four-year mission, according to Space.
Controllers were initially unsure where the spacecraft would land, but it ultimately disintegrated about 50 miles above the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean without causing property damage, Space reported. The European Space Agency characterized the mission as a success because the vehicle lasted far beyond initial expectations while mapping Earth’s gravitational field, crust, and mantle.
Ferrari of Space
The 17-foot-long spacecraft earned its distinct nickname from a sleek, futuristic exterior featuring solar-paneled fins, according to Space.
“GOCE’s sleek, elegant aerodynamic design — responsible for it being dubbed the ‘Ferrari of space’ — immediately set it apart from most other satellites,” ESA officials said in a description reported by Space.
This aerodynamic shape served a functional purpose by helping the 1-ton satellite counteract atmospheric drag while operating at an unusually low altitude of 139 miles, roughly half the orbital height of the International Space Station.
Xenon Ion Propulsion
A xenon ion engine powered the spacecraft and allowed it to maintain its low-altitude orbit for four years, Space reported. Once that fuel supply was exhausted, the 3.2-foot-wide vehicle could no longer maintain position against atmospheric drag.
Space reported that roughly 25% of the satellite was expected to survive the fiery reentry and reach the Earth’s surface due to the substantial mass of the hardware.
Common questions about GOCE reentry
How low did GOCE fly compared to other spacecraft?
The satellite orbited at an altitude of just 139 miles, which is nearly half the height of the International Space Station, according to Space.
What caused the satellite to reenter the atmosphere?
Space reported that the 1-ton spacecraft ran out of the xenon ion fuel required to counteract atmospheric drag at its low operating altitude.
Did the falling debris cause any damage on the ground?
The spacecraft disintegrated about 50 miles above the Falkland Islands, and Space reported that it caused no property damage.
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