The satellite that has been tracking Earth's wildfires for 24 years is running out of fuel to dodge debris

NASA’s aging Aqua satellite, which has monitored Earth’s wildfires and climate patterns since 2002, is nearing the end of its operational life because it is running low on fuel needed to avoid space debris and maintain its orbit. Aqua has played a critical role in detecting fires early—sometimes faster than emergency calls reach authorities—and has helped scientists build one of the longest continuous climate and wildfire datasets ever assembled. However, increasing congestion in low Earth orbit has forced more debris-avoidance maneuvers, consuming the satellite’s limited fuel reserves faster. Scientists warn that when Aqua is eventually retired, the world risks losing an irreplaceable long-term climate record that has been essential for tracking how climate change is influencing wildfire activity and other environmental trends. More

(Source: Space Daily - May 23)