NASA will shut down the $1 billion Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) by 30 September. The move will save $10 million a year,
UARS, which was launched in 1991, was designed to operate for three years but will remain in orbit until at least 2016 before making an uncontrolled re-entry. Eight of its 10 instruments are still working.
There had been plans to retrieve the 6,500kg (14,300lb), 10m (33ft)-long satellite from orbit using the Space Shuttle, but these plans have been rejected.
UARS monitored and measured ozone and chemical compounds in the atmosphere, including monitoring the ozone hole over Antarctica.
A follow-on satellite, Aura, is scheduled for launch by NASA in 2004.
Source: Flight International
