Cartosat-2, ISRO’s first satellite of the second generation of high quality satellites launched seventeen years ago, was successfully dropped from space into the Earth’s atmosphere.
An official of the space agency gave this information on Friday. The official said the satellite entered the Earth’s atmosphere over the Indian Ocean at 3.48 pm Indian time on February 14.
He told that either it might have been burnt or its remaining part might have fallen into the sea, which we would not be able to find.
According to ISRO, the satellite was launched on 10 January 2007. It weighed 680 kg at launch and was operating in a sun-synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of 635 km.
It said that initially, Cartosat-2 was expected to take about 30 years for a natural descent. However, ISRO chose to reduce its circumference by using leftover fuel to comply with international guidelines on reducing space debris.
ISRO said that following the recommendations of organizations such as the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN-COPOUS) and the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), the exercise aims to minimize collision risks and ensure its safe disposal. Included.