NASA satellite CRASH: NASA sends radiation probes on fiery Earth descent after six years

The probes were initially designed for a two-year-long mission, but much like the decommissioned Mars Opportunity rover, the satellites outlived all expectations.

However, in February this year, the Van Allen mission team at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) pulled the plug on the satellites.

Nelli Mosavi, the Van Allen project manager at APL, said: “At the new altitude, aerodynamic drag will bring down the satellites and eventually burn them up in the upper atmosphere.

“Our mission is to obtain great science data and also to ensure that we prevent more space debris so the next generations have the opportunity to explore space as well.”

READ MORE: NASA Opportunity last message: What were final heartbreaking words of Mars rover?