Space debris: 'Grandfather satellite' due to fall to Earth
Space debris: 'Grandfather satellite' due to fall to Earth ERS-2 was a cutting-edge observation platform when it launched in 1995, forging technologies that are now used routinely to monitor the planet. It's been gradually descending since ending operations in 2011 and will take an uncontrolled, fiery plunge into the atmosphere sometime on Wednesday.satellitespace junklink