Tag

Re Entry

All articles tagged with #re entry

space29 days ago•10 min saved

Starship Flight 13 Deploys Starlink V3 Satellites, Refines Re-Entry Path

SpaceX’s Starship Flight 13 deployed 20 operational Starlink V3 satellites, relit a Raptor in orbit, and achieved its softest, largely intact splashdown to date while testing tougher re-entry conditions; the booster struggled to reignite during landing. The mission advances Starship’s path toward a fully reusable heavy-lift system and supports future Starlink deployments, NASA’s Artemis program, and SpaceX’s broader exploration goals.

via Interesting Engineering|

#re-entry #rocketry #space

space1 month ago•12 min saved

Old Soviet Venus Capsule May Have Survived Re-entry and Returned to Earth

A descent capsule from Kosmos 482, the 1972 Soviet Venus mission, re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 10 May 2025 after 53 years in orbit; radar tracked a re-entry window with no confirmed landing, and while analyses suggest the capsule's Venus-designed titanium shell could have survived re-entry and remained largely intact, there is no direct recovery or conclusive landing evidence.

via Space Daily|

#kosmos-482 #re-entry #soviet-space-program

technology3 months ago•3 min saved

China wraps up Tianzhou-9 with controlled re-entry

China’s Tianzhou-9 cargo craft re-entered Earth’s atmosphere in a controlled disposal at 7:49 a.m. Beijing Time, with a small amount of debris that survived ablation falling into designated safe waters, per the China Manned Space Agency. Launched July 15, 2025 from Wenchang to supply the Tiangong space station, Tianzhou-9 separated to its independent flight phase before re-entry.

via Global Times|

#china #cmsa #re-entry

space4 months ago•46 min saved

Artemis II heat shield shows light char during Earth entry

Artemis II astronauts reported a smooth re-entry from the Moon with only light char loss on the Orion capsule’s heat shield shoulder; NASA said the shield performed as expected, adjusted the entry angle to reduce heat on future flights, and noted speeds during descent reached around Mach 32–39 before parachutes eased the capsule to a Pacific splashdown, with engineers set to review data ahead of Artemis III’s planned lunar landing.

via Yahoo|

#artemis-ii #heat-shield #nasa

science4 months ago•37 min saved

Artemis II Braces for Reentry as Heat Shield Flaws Loom

Ahead of Artemis II’s planned California splashdown, NASA acknowledges known flaws in the capsule’s heat shield—a design linked to Artemis I’s crack, and lacking a backup shield. Officials say a modified reentry path and crew safety measures will mitigate risk during the 5,000-degree-F heat, which makes the final ~13 minutes of flight the mission’s most perilous phase. Experts including Charlie Camarda warn of possible catastrophe, while NASA asserts the shield’s overall thermal performance has met or exceeded expectations; the four astronauts have been sending personal messages home as they approach splashdown.

via Yahoo|

#artemis-ii #heat-shield #nasa

space5 months ago•2 min saved

NASA’s Van Allen Probes Begin Final Descent Toward Earth

NASA says the 1,300-pound Van Allen Probe from the 2012 mission is due to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere around 7:45 p.m. ET (00:45 GMT) with a 24-hour uncertainty; it will mostly burn up, with a 1 in 4,200 chance of debris causing harm. The mission, which outlasted its planned two-year life by seven years, studied Earth’s radiation belts and helped identify a transient third belt; Van Allen Probe B isn’t expected to re-enter until about 2030, and NASA/US Space Force will monitor the descent.

via BBC|

#nasa #radiation-belts #re-entry

science5 months ago•3 min saved

Uncontrolled re-entry: NASA's Van Allen Probe A poses small debris risk

A defunct NASA satellite, Van Allen Probe A (launched in 2012 to study Earth's radiation belts), is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere in an uncontrolled descent around 7:45 p.m. EDT; most of the 1,323-pound craft should burn up, but some components may survive, with an estimated risk to people on Earth of about 1 in 4,200. Predictions carry roughly 24 hours of uncertainty. The probe's twin, Van Allen Probe B, remains in orbit, and this event underscores ongoing space-debris concerns as launches increase; debris typically falls over oceans due to most of Earth's surface being water.

via NBC News|

#earth-safety #nasa #re-entry

space5 months ago•2 min saved

Van Allen Probe A Heads Toward Re-Entry After Pioneering Belt Study

NASA's Van Allen Probe A is on a planned re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere after a mission to study the planet’s radiation belts. The 1,323-pound satellite, launched in 2012 with Van Allen Probe B, is expected to re-enter around 7:45 p.m. EDT on March 10, 2026 (±24 hours); most of it will burn up, but some debris could survive. The mission, originally two years, ran for about seven years and yielded important insights into radiation belts and space weather forecasting, including evidence of a transient third belt. Van Allen Probe B isn’t expected to re-enter until around 2030. The risk to people on Earth remains very low, about 1 in 4,200, and predictions will be updated as conditions change.

via NASA (.gov)|

#earths-radiation-belts #nasa #re-entry

science6 months ago•5 min saved

Lithium Trail in Upper Atmosphere Traced to SpaceX Re-entry

Researchers using sensitive lasers detected a rapid lithium plume in the mesosphere–lower thermosphere and traced it to the February 2025 re-entry of a discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage, marking the first ground-based observation that re-entering space debris leaves a detectable chemical fingerprint. With orbital activity rising and megaconstellations planned, the study underscores the need for monitoring networks and regulatory action to understand and manage potential impacts on the upper atmosphere and ozone.

via ScienceAlert|

#lithium-plume #ozone-impact #re-entry

world10 months ago•4 min saved

Mysterious Space Debris Discovered in Australian Desert

A mysterious charred object found in the Australian desert is confirmed to be space debris, likely from a Chinese rocket re-entry, highlighting ongoing concerns about uncontrolled spacecraft re-entries and debris tracking efforts. Authorities are investigating, and the public is advised to report any similar objects.

via Indian Defence Review|

#australia #debris #re-entry

science1 year ago•1 min saved

Fireballs and Satellite Streaks Light Up the Pacific Northwest Sky

A bright streak across Montana's sky was caused by space debris, likely a satellite such as Starlink, burning up upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, coinciding with the Perseids meteor shower but unrelated to it. No damage was reported.

via KRTV|

#meteor-shower #montana-sky #re-entry

science-and-technology1 year ago•4 min saved

NASA to Capture In-Flight Images of Commercial Capsule Re-Entry

NASA's SCIFLI team will support Europe's Exploration Company by capturing in-flight imagery and spectrometer data of the Mission Possible capsule's re-entry, parachute deployment, and splashdown, aiding in refining models and future capsule designs, with operations staged in Hawaii and involving a Gulfstream III aircraft.

via NASA (.gov)|

#imagery #mission-possible #nasa

science1 year ago•2 min saved

Astronauts Share the Fear of Returning to Earth

Astronauts describe re-entering Earth's atmosphere as the most perilous part of space travel, due to extreme physical, technical, and psychological challenges. The process involves navigating hypersonic speeds and intense heat, with spacecraft relying on advanced thermal protection systems to prevent disaster. Despite technological advances, the psychological toll remains significant, with astronauts needing to maintain focus amidst sensory overload. This experience often leads to a profound shift in perspective, highlighting Earth's fragility and the importance of global collaboration.

via The Daily Galaxy --Great Discoveries Channel|

#astronauts #earth #psychological-challenges

science-and-technology1 year ago•1 min saved

Spectacular Fireball Over Southwest US Likely Satellite Debris

A SpaceX Starlink satellite re-entered Earth's atmosphere, creating a fireball spectacle over the Southwest U.S., with sightings reported in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. The satellite, launched in 2022, was designed to burn up upon re-entry to prevent space debris. This event coincided with ongoing meteor showers, leading to initial confusion among skywatchers.

via Fox Weather |

#meteor-showers #re-entry #satellites

science-and-technology2 years ago•2 min saved

NASA Confirms SpaceX Debris Found in North Carolina

Debris found in Western North Carolina has been confirmed by NASA to be from a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft that broke apart during re-entry. The debris, which was expected to burn up, was discovered by local residents, prompting NASA and SpaceX to use the findings to improve debris modeling. Residents are advised not to handle the debris and to contact SpaceX for recovery.

via NBC 15 WPMI|

#debris #nasa #north-carolina