Publications Details

An Exploratory Data Mining Study of Re-entry Events: Foundations for Multi-Modality Sensing and Data Fusion

Sawal, Vedant; Silber, Elizabeth A.

This report delineates an initial systematic data mining investigation aimed at compiling a preliminary database of re-entry events recorded between 1995 and 2024. The dataset encompasses a heterogeneous assortment of occurrences, including controlled space shuttle re-entries, scheduled orbital de-orbits, and the uncontrolled re-entry of space debris, among other unplanned events. By employing targeted English-language queries, country-specific search parameters, and a suite of technical keywords, alongside a methodology analogous to our prior study on foreign hypersonic test events, the investigation extracts pertinent information from digital news outlets, official press releases, and social media platforms. The resulting compilation serves as a robust empirical foundation and establishes critical ground truth for the study of high-speed atmospheric dynamics. Although derived solely from publicly available sources and acknowledged as non-exhaustive, this initial study paves the way for the development of a more comprehensive database. It motivates subsequent efforts in data fusion and multi-modality sensing investigations aimed at correlating geophysical signatures with these events.