US media reported that the US Army Air Force had completed the mission of the largest satellite in human history and turned it off.
The DSX satellite is one of the largest satellites in the world, with its booms extending nearly the length of a football field.
The large satellite was launched in 2019, but work on the experiment began in 2003, as the US Air Force Research Laboratory wanted to study the harsh radioactive environment of medium Earth orbit.
Mean Earth orbit is defined as the vast area of space that lies between 1,243 miles and 22,236 miles above sea level.
According to the news published on the “c4isrnet” website, the satellite’s equipment was turned off and its mission was terminated last month, nearly two years after its launch and a year after it was expected to end its mission.
It is worth noting that the satellite was made for purely scientific purposes, according to the sources, as the American laboratory wanted a scientific experimental satellite to collect data on space radiation, which would help the US Department of Defense understand and predict it and develop spacecraft capable of carrying it.
NASA’s SET mission to study satellite protection is ready for launch #SpaceEnvironmentTestbeds #DSX #Radiation #Spacehttps://t.co/ofo807ILh0 pic.twitter.com/gS4FmLS91v
— SpaceNewsfeed.com (@SpaceNewsfeed) June 10, 2019
Accordingly, the satellite is equipped with large sensors and antenna arms, as it is the largest deployable structure ever built to operate in orbit.
DSX launched June 25, 2019 aboard a @SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket as part of the @DeptofDefense Space Test Program. Spanning almost the length of a football field, DSX is the largest, self-supporting unmanned #satellite ever placed in #space.
More: https://t.co/FBHGCcuPgP pic.twitter.com/GvGqB1oRxY
— U.S. Air Force Materiel Command ✈️ (@HQ_AFMC) June 21, 2021
According to the source, the laboratory finally decided to end the life of the satellite on May 31, “The laboratory did not provide details about what happens to the satellite that has been turned off.”