If we consider the real situation of the passage of a satellite through the atmosphere, then none of the parts would have survived this fiery journey. Therefore, tests are used to understand exactly how the apparatus falls apart during a fall.
ESA specifically creates the conditions for atmospheric transmission and tests on samples of typical satellite structures. For example, the image shows a structural connection between two aluminum panels.
For the tests, the aerodynamic tunnel of the German Aerospace Center DLR in Cologne was used. This allowed us to create supersonic winds and high heat flux. The goal of the project is to understand the modes under which modern satellite technologies fail. In the future, knowledge will help design models that can be re-run.
