Ep 5. How Spacecraft Missions End

Xploration Outer Space season 5 episode 5, titled "How Spacecraft Missions End," explores the different ways in which spacecraft missions come to an end. Host Emily Calandrelli takes the viewers on a journey through the final stages of various spacecrafts, including the Mars Opportunity rover and Cassini spacecraft.

The episode starts with a brief introduction of the different stages of a spacecraft mission, including the launch, in-orbit operations, and the end of mission stage. Emily then explains how the majority of spacecrafts are designed to last for a certain period, after which they inevitably stop functioning.

The first segment of the episode follows the story of the Mars Opportunity rover, which operated on Mars for 15 years before its mission came to an end. The viewers get to see the different stages of the rover's journey, including the initial landing, its exploration of the Martian surface, and the final moments when the rover stopped transmitting to Earth.

Emily then takes the viewers through the process of decommissioning of spacecrafts, which involves activities such as reconfiguring the spacecraft, activating its deorbit engines, and disposing it safely. The process of decommissioning is particularly important to ensure that the spacecraft does not cause any harm to the environment or cause any space debris.

The second segment of the episode focuses on the Cassini spacecraft, which orbited Saturn for 13 years before its mission ended. Emily explains how the spacecraft was intentionally crashed into Saturn, Spectacular images of the Saturn and its rings captured by Cassini are also shown, which instill an appreciation of the information gleaned from this mission.

The final segment of the episode delves into how space exploration advances the understanding of space physics which in the end contributes to technological advancements. Emily emphasizes how space exploration and research can bring light to many different fields beyond astrophysics.

Overall, "How Spacecraft Missions End" provides fascinating insights into the different phases of spacecraft missions and how they conclude. It is an educational and thought-provoking episode that will appeal to space enthusiasts and individuals interested in science and technology.