The retired European Remote Sensing Satellite ERS-2 re-entered Earth’s atmosphere over the North Pacific Ocean on February 21st, 2024, as monitored by an international coalition led by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee and ESA’s Space Debris Office.

The satellite, along with its twin, ERS-1, launched in 1995, has significantly contributed to our understanding of Earth’s system and climate change research.

The ESA has since shifted towards a ‘controlled’ re-entry approach to enhance space sustainability, in line with the ESA Zero Debris initiative and the community-led Zero Debris Charter.