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LeoLabs, a provider of Space Traffic Management (STM) and Space Situational Awareness (SSA) services, has expressed its support for the European Space Agency’s (ESA) successful assisted reentry of the Aeolus Earth observation satellite over Antarctica on July 28, 2023.

The assisted reentry of Aeolus was considered “first-of-its-kind” since the satellite was not originally designed for controlled reentry. However, ESA performed a series of maneuvers between July 24 and 28, 2023, to lower the satellite’s orbit and position it over a planned Atlantic ground track. This prevented any potential harm from remaining debris during the atmospheric reentry.

As a tracking partner, LeoLabs received ephemeris data from ESA Mission Control before and after each maneuver. This data was used to task LeoLabs’ global radar network to track the satellite and verify orbital changes. This successful partnership demonstrated LeoLabs’ object tracking capabilities in very low Earth orbit (VLEO), including altitudes below 400 km. It also showcased the reliability of tracking objects in VLEO for LeoLabs.

Tommaso Parrinello, ESA Aeolus Mission Manager, expressed appreciation for LeoLabs’ support and contribution to reducing space debris and enabling a safe reentry. Parrinello stated that testing space tracking capabilities for assisted and controlled reentries brings us closer to achieving sustainable space.

Edward Lu, LeoLabs Co-founder and CTO, highlighted that this mission is a significant step towards making space safer and more sustainable. He emphasized the importance of responsible behavior by satellite owners/operators in normalizing space safety measures and advancing expertise in active debris removal.

The successful assisted reentry of the Aeolus satellite and the collaboration between LeoLabs and ESA mark important progress in ensuring the long-term sustainability of space exploration and operations.

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