It is a decommissioned so-called ERB satellite (Earth Radiation Budget Satellite) from NASA, which has now been in space for almost four decades. The satellite was launched on October 5, 1984 by the Space Shuttle Challenger.
He was then an important part of a NASA mission entitled “Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE)” with three satellites. On board were instruments for measuring the radiation budget of the earth and components of the stratosphere, including ozone.
In use ten times longer than expected
Then, for 21 years, ERBS actively studied how the Earth absorbs and radiates energy from the Sun, and made measurements of stratospheric ozone, water vapor, nitrogen dioxide and aerosols. Then the satellite was retired in 2005. Originally, the researchers had calculated that it would only be possible to collect data for around two years. One of the most important questions that the research satellite was supposed to answer dealt with the energy balance of the sun, the balance between the amount of energy absorbed and radiated by the sun. It was also used to make climate observations and recognize weather patterns. According to estimates, the re-entry into the atmosphere will take place on the night of Sunday, January 8th. Scientists are currently assuming that most of the satellite will burn up on its way through the atmosphere.
However, there is a high probability that some of the components will survive reentry. According to NASA, however, the risk of someone being harmed on earth is low.
Infographic risk of collision: tens of thousands of asteroids cross path of the earth
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