The British-built satellite Aeolus has reached its final resting place: the Atlantic Ocean. 

The re-entry of the weather satellite was guided by mission controllers at the European Space Agency (ESA), using what little fuel remained onboard. It has been hailed as the first time a defunct satellite has undergone such a controlled re-entry on Earth. 

Aeolus has been one of ESA’s most successful Earth observation missions. The 1,360kg satellite was built by Airbus Defence and Space in Stevenage, and it became the first satellite mission to acquire profiles of Earth’s wind on a global scale.

The satellite was originally due to end its life after three years in orbit, but its mission was extended by almost two additional years, coming to an end on 28 July 2023.

Aeolus measurement geometry / ESA

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