The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Over the nearly 70 years of spaceflight, about 10 000 intact satellites and rocket bodies have reentered the atmosphere with many more to follow. Yet for such a ubiquitous event, we still lack a clear view on what actually happens to a satellite during its fiery last moments.
ESA is preparing the Destructive Reentry Assessment Container Object (Draco) mission that will collect unique measurements during an actual reentry and breakup of a satellite from the inside. A capsule especially designed to survive the destruction will then transmit the valuable telemetry shortly after.
Deimos has signed a first contract worth €3 million for the start of the development of the satellite. The Draco mission is a small and fast design-to-launch Space Safety mission, with the launch scheduled for 2027.
The teams are celebrating the contract during an event hosted by Deimos in Puertollano, Spain. From left to right: Holger Krag, Head of Space Safety at ESA, Juan Carlos Cortés, Director of Programmes and Industry at the Spanish Space Agency and Simone Centuori, CEO of Deimos.