Pioneering European satellite burns up over Pacific

A pioneering European satellite designed to monitor the Earth’s atmosphere and track climate change has burned up on re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere after running out of fuel. The Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) satellite re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean on Sunday night, with only a few remaining components surviving the fiery plunge.

GOCE was launched in March 2009 with the mission of mapping variations in the Earth’s gravity with unprecedented accuracy. The satellite operated at a much lower orbit than most other satellites, at an altitude of just 254 kilometers, which allowed it to gather highly detailed data but also made it susceptible to atmospheric drag that ultimately caused its demise.

The European Space Agency said that GOCE had provided a wealth of data that has significantly improved our understanding of the Earth’s gravity field and its geoid, which is the shape it would take if gravity were the only force influencing its topography. The satellite’s innovative design and groundbreaking measurements will have a lasting impact on future Earth observation missions.

While the loss of GOCE is a disappointment, its mission has paved the way for future satellite missions that will continue to monitor the Earth’s changing climate and provide crucial data for scientific research and policy making.