They need to use another spacecraft to de-orbit it because it is dead.
It is in a higher orbit than the ISS at 772-774 km but still - that is low enough so the easiest thing to do is to de=orbit it, which would happen otherwise about 150 years from now.
ESA is actively looking into ways to do it. The thing is that, well you may know - because of its size and orbit - it's a major contribution to spacecraft debris threats - if it was shattered it is in a vulnerable orbit and is a large satellite, would be a big increase in debris.
Recent news - Canada may help: Canada Seeks To Help ESA Deorbit Envisat Using Robot Arm
It is in a higher orbit than the ISS at 772-774 km but still - that is low enough so the easiest thing to do is to de=orbit it, which would happen otherwise about 150 years from now.
ESA is actively looking into ways to do it. The thing is that, well you may know - because of its size and orbit - it's a major contribution to spacecraft debris threats - if it was shattered it is in a vulnerable orbit and is a large satellite, would be a big increase in debris.
Recent news - Canada may help: Canada Seeks To Help ESA Deorbit Envisat Using Robot Arm
About the Author
Robert Walker
Writer of articles on Mars and Space issues - Software Developer of Tune Smithy, Bounce Metronome etc.Studied at Wolfson College, Oxford
Lives in Isle of Mull
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