Old European Satellite Plunges Harmlessly Through Atmosphere Over Pacific

Old European Satellite Plunges Harmlessly Through Atmosphere Over Pacific
The European Remote Sensing 2 satellite (ERS-2) satellite in a clean room before its launch in 1995. ESA via AP
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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.—An old Earth-observing satellite fell out of orbit Wednesday and harmlessly broke apart over the Pacific.

The European Remote Sensing 2 satellite reentered halfway between Hawaii and Alaska. The European Space Agency confirmed the demise of the 5,000-pound (2,300-kilogram) spacecraft, known as ERS-2.