The European Space Agency will destroy a brand new satellite in 2027 just to see what happens

The European Space Agency (ESA) plans to launch a satellite into orbit in 2027 to see how it fares when it reenters the atmosphere. The project aims to help understand exactly how satellites fall apart, so scientists can learn how to prevent the creation of even more space debris.

Space debris is becoming a bigger problem as we send more satellites into space, but there are efforts to address this problem. This mission is part of ESA’s Zero Debris Charter initiative to stop the creation of additional space debris by 2030.

The mission is called the Destructive Reentry Assessment Container Object (DRACO), and the interior of the satellite will collect data as the spacecraft is destroyed during its reentry into the atmosphere. It will also contain a 40 centimeter capsule designed to survive the destruction and which will transmit the collected data as the capsule moves towards the ocean.

Aerospace engineering company Deimos is contracted to build DRACO, which will be about the size of a washing machine and weigh about 200 kg (441 pounds). It will contain 200 sensors and four cameras, but no propulsion or navigation systems. Most space debris returning to Earth is uncontrolled anyway, and the point is to simulate an average return as closely as possible, the ESA press release said.

Collecting the data before the capsule hits the water is critical, and there can be challenges, such as trying to deploy a parachute as it tumbles through the air. The ESA says there will be a 20-minute period to collect the data.