Hyperbola
ESA’s GOCE spacecraft re-enters Earth’s atmosphere and burns up
11 Nov 2013, 09:57 UTC
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The European GOCE (Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Experiment) Earth-gravity measurement spacecraft has now re-entered at around 0001 GMT on 11 November 2013. It is thought that most of the spacecraft burned up safely after its uncommanded re-entry. GOCE ran out of propellant for its drag compensating ion thrusters on 21 October 2013.
GOCE’s aerodynamic looks gave it the nickname, the “Ferrari of Spacecraft”. Courtesy: ESA