NASA’s ERBS satellite was launched back in 1984. ERBS stands for “Earth Radiation Budget Satellite.” The satellite was sent up to space to study the Earth’s energy budget and how it’s affected by things like clouds and the greenhouse effect. And boy, has it been busy! Over the years, ERBS has gathered tons of data and helped us better understand our planet and how it works.
Gladly, it’s not all work and no play for this little satellite – it’s also had its fair share of adventures! From dodging space debris to braving solar storms, ERBS has proven to be a tough little cookie. So next time you look up at the sky, take a moment to thank ERBS for all its hard work! Especially for the fact that it will soon reach the end of the road!
The ERBS satellite will crash on Earth on Sunday (January 8)
The U.S. military estimates that the ERBS satellite will re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere on Sunday at around 6:40 p.m. EST, with a margin of error of plus or minus 17 hours, according to NASA officials and as Space.com reveals.
Even though the satellite will come crashing down to Earth, it can hardly pose any threat. Most of it will be burned up in the atmosphere due to air friction and gravitational acceleration.
NASA officials wrote:
NASA expects most of the satellite to burn up as it travels through the atmosphere, but some components are expected to survive the reentry,
The risk of harm coming to anyone on Earth is very low — approximately 1 in 9,400.
It is difficult to give an exact number of how many satellites NASA has in orbit around the Earth, as the number can vary over time. NASA operates a number of different types of satellites for a variety of purposes, including Earth observation, weather forecasting, communication, and navigation. Some of these satellites are operated by NASA directly, while others are operated by other agencies or organizations as part of NASA-led missions.
