The European Space Agency satellite GOCE is returning to Earth, falling out of its decaying orbit. It will re-enter the atmosphere Sunday night and land … somewhere. GOCE, the Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer, had been mapping ocean currents since 2009. It cost $443 million and weighs about a ton.
More:
“GOCE Satellite Hours Away from Falling to Earth,” Phil Plait, Slate
“Duck! Falling Satellite Arrives on Sunday,” Jeffrey Kluger, TIME
UPDATE (phew!):
“European Space Agency’s Goce satellite falls to Earth,” Jonathan Amos, BBC News
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Tags: "European Space Agency", "Gravity Field and Steady State Ocean Circulation Observer", ESA, GOCE, gravity, orbit, satellites, space
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