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Space
Space
Science
Andrew Jones

Europe will launch a satellite in 2027 just to watch it burn

A piece of space debris streaks with flame as it burns up in the atmosphere.

The European Space Agency (ESA) wants to launch a satellite to closely watch how it breaks up during its fiery reentry into Earth's atmosphere. 

ESA has awarded a contract to European technology group Deimos to begin developing the Destructive Reentry Assessment Container Object, or DRACO for short. The spacecraft will aim to collect unique data as it reenters Earth's atmosphere and disintegrates. The mission is scheduled to launch in 2027.

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