DLR Portal: FAQ on ROSAT mission

Since its launch on 1 June 1990, friction due to Earth's upper atmosphere has been causing the X-ray satellite ROSAT to lose altitude continuously.

When the spacecraft re-enters the atmosphere, which is expected to occur in October 2011, the satellite will disintegrate and most of the fragments will burn up in the extreme heat caused by atmospheric friction.

This FAQ provides answers to the most common questions about the ROSAT mission and its re-entry.