The European Space Agency has devised a new way for its satellites to avoid staying in the Earth's orbit after being decommissioned, and it is through the ADEO-N "Angel Wings" for satellites. It is called the "angel wings" due to its design, but its main purpose is to help expedite the re-entry process of a spacecraft instead of contributing to space garbage.
It is known that the planet's low-Earth orbit (LEO) is rid of junk left over from defunct projects, with the left-behind litter already filling its surroundings that affect other active satellites and missions.
ESA's ADEO-N 'Angel Wings' to Help Expedite Re-Entry
(Photo : ESA)
The ESA launched a small satellite carrier called the ION in June 2021 with the SpaceX Falcon, and in late December 2022, the agency decided to deploy a package called the ADEO-N which saw successful results in its test.
The Drag Augmentation Deorbiting System (ADEO) braking sail is 3.6 square meters in its full size but was stowed by ESA into a 10-centimeter box when it launched in 2021. The braking sail deployed in December and astronomers were able to note its significant helpful effects in adding drag to a spacecraft.
It is a large aluminum-coated polyamide membrane attached to four carbon-fiber reinforced booms that resemble an X-shape and can be stowed when not yet needed.
As it continues to add drag, the spacecraft lowers on its own, and soon, if it enters the Earth's atmosphere, the decommissioned vessel would burn in, and be reduced to dust.
Other surviving materials will then be collected by their respective agencies.
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Reducing Space Junk using ESA's New Wings
(Photo : ESA)
As per the ESA, this may be used for future satellite projects of the agency, as well as its partners to help expedite the process of re-entry to the planet. Instead of waiting for five years for it to clear up, ESA said that the angel wings will help the satellite to return in about one year and three months only.
Space Garbage Problems Now
There is a massive problem with space garbage surrounding the world now, and these left-behind remnants of old satellites, rockets, or vessels are creating massive problems in both the cosmic heavens and the planet. One study claimed that space junk can apparently "trap" humans on the planet when there comes a time that a massive exodus is needed.
Additionally, there are also studies regarding the harm that space garbage can bring to humans, and there are possibilities for it to fall on the planet and cause significant destruction on the land. The study claims that it will be likely to be falling more on the globe's Southern hemisphere, causing harm to those on the bottom half of the planet than those above.
There are already mandates and laws which aim to reduce space garbage, one that would require all agencies and companies to collect their left-behind materials or vessels within five years. In ESA's latest development, the decommissioned spacecraft would have an expedited re-entry in a little over a year after its end of life, using the innovative angel wings to help the process.
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