Washington: A satellite launched by the United States space agency Nasa in 2012 is expected to fall back to Earth after spending nearly fourteen years in space. The spacecraft, known as Van Allen Probe A, was part of a mission designed to study the powerful radiation belts that surround the planet.
Nasa launched two identical satellites in August 2012 to explore the Van Allen radiation belts, regions filled with charged particles trapped by Earth’s magnetic field. These belts help protect the planet from harmful solar radiation and play an important role in space weather.
The satellite that is now returning to Earth stopped working in 2019 after it ran out of fuel and could no longer maintain its position in space. Since then it has slowly been losing altitude while orbiting the planet.
Scientists say the spacecraft is expected to re enter the atmosphere around March 10 or March 11. As it falls through the atmosphere most of the satellite will burn up because of the intense heat created by friction with the air.
However experts say that some small pieces of debris could survive the fall and reach the ground. Even so the risk to people is considered very low. According to Nasa the chance of someone being harmed by falling debris is extremely small because most of Earth’s surface is covered by oceans.
Researchers had earlier expected the satellite to remain in orbit until about 2034. But stronger solar activity in the current solar cycle has increased the density of Earth’s upper atmosphere, creating more drag and pulling the spacecraft down faster than predicted.
The Van Allen mission helped scientists make important discoveries about the radiation belts. One of the most surprising findings was the temporary formation of a third radiation belt during strong solar storms. These discoveries have helped scientists better understand space weather and its impact on satellites, astronauts and communication systems on Earth.
Nasa and the United States Space Force continue to track the satellite’s final descent to better estimate where any surviving debris might fall. Experts say the re entry is expected to occur safely with most of the spacecraft burning up before reaching the ground.