NASA Satellite projected to fall to Earth this week

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The Challenger was a historic mission. It featured a second space trip for America’s first woman in space, Sally Ride. It was the first time two female astronauts flew into space together. And Dr. Kathryn Sullivan was the first U.S. woman to perform a spacewalk.

On October 5, 1984, Sally Ride also used the shuttle’s robot arm to release the satellite into orbit.

“It was part of a three-satellite experiment to study and measure impacts of solar radiation on stratospheric ozone, water vapor, nitrogen dioxide and aerosols in Earth’s stratosphere,” the NASA statement reads.

“ERBS far exceeded its expected two-year service life, operating until its retirement in 2005. Its observations helped researchers measure the effects of human activities on Earth’s radiation balance.” the NASA statement reads.

“NASA has continued to build on the success of the ERBS mission with projects including the current Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System suite of satellite instruments.”