A satellite named Salsa is set to re-enter Earth's atmosphere on September 8. It has been carefully brought down by the operators from 81,250 miles (130,000 km) to return to Earth and burn up over a region of the South Pacific.&nbsp;

Guided re-entries ensure that no debris remains in orbit, nor does it fall over unexpected and populated areas. This is the second satellite to be brought down using a planned and manoeuvred "guided re-entry" after&nbsp;Aeolus.

Salsa has been in orbit since 2000 and is part of a four-piece group called Cluster. The other three satellites are named - &nbsp;Rumba, Tango and Samba. The identical satellites were entrusted with the work of monitoring Earth's magnetic field for two years. However, the satellites are still going strong and sending back data.&nbsp;

By bringing the satellite safely back to Earth, the European Space Agency (ESA) plans to understand more about creating satellites that do not add to space debris.&nbsp;

"By studying how Salsa burns up, which parts might survive, for how long and in what state, we will learn much about how to build 'zero-debris' satellites," said Tim Flohrer, head of ESA's Space Debris Office, in a statement.

Aeolus was manoeuvred from its old orbit at an altitude of 200 miles (320 km) down to 75 miles (120 km). From here, Earth's atmosphere dragged it down and it ended in a fireball over the Atlantic.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/chinese-rocket-blows-up-in-space-casting-a-huge-cloud-of-debris-around-earth-748750">Chinese rocket blows up in space casting a huge cloud of debris around Earth</a>

Salsa has a more eccentric orbit, and in January a manoeuvre was conducted that will bring it to its nearest point of just 50 miles (80 km) soon. From here, it will fall into the Pacific.

ESA will then bring back Rumba in 2025, followed by Tango and Samba in 2026. It hopes to observe each of them burning up at a different angle.

<h2>The problem of space debris</h2>

Space debris has emerged as a major problem in the past few years. Earlier, satellites were left to drift away after their purpose was fulfilled. However, space agencies are now working to ensure they do not add to the space debris. If Cluster had retired in 2002 as intended, the four satellites would have been left up in space.

Allowing a satellite to fall to Earth itself assuming it burns up upon re-entry also poses a danger to people as the satellite is still likely to spread debris. A guided re-entry lets operators get it to fall exactly in the place they have in mind. However, ESA says that it is highly unlikely that a defunct satellite will inflict damage. But ESA is still eager to work on guide re-entries.&nbsp;

A satellite named Salsa is set to re-enter Earth's atmosphere on September 8. It has been carefully brought down by the operators from 81,250 miles (130,000 km) to return to Earth and burn up over a region of the South Pacific.

A satellite named Salsa is set to re-enter Earth's atmosphere on September 8. It has been carefully brought down by the operators from 81,250 miles (130,000 km) to return to Earth and burn up over a region of the South Pacific. Guided re-entries ensure that no debris remains in orbit, nor does it fall over unexpected and populated areas. This is the second satellite to be brought down using a planned and manoeuvred "guided re-entry" after Aeolus. Salsa has been in orbit since 2000 and is part of a four-piece group called Cluster. The other three satellites are named - Rumba, Tango and Samba. The identical satellites were entrusted with the work of monitoring Earth's magnetic field for two years. However, the satellites are still going strong and sending back data. By bringing the satellite safely back to Earth, the European Space Agency (ESA) plans to understand more about creating satellites that do not add to space debris. "By studying how Salsa burns up, which parts might survive, for how long and in what state, we will learn much about how to build 'zero-debris' satellites," said Tim Flohrer, head of ESA's Space Debris Office, in a statement. Aeolus was manoeuvred from its old orbit at an altitude of 200 miles (320 km) down to 75 miles (120 km). From here, Earth's atmosphere dragged it down and it ended in a fireball over the Atlantic. Also Read: Chinese rocket blows up in space casting a huge cloud of debris around Earth Salsa has a more eccentric orbit, and in January a manoeuvre was conducted that will bring it to its nearest point of just 50 miles (80 km) soon. From here, it will fall into the Pacific. ESA will then bring back Rumba in 2025, followed by Tango and Samba in 2026. It hopes to observe each of them burning up at a different angle. The problem of space debris Space debris has emerged as a major problem in the past few years. Earlier, satellites were left to drift away after their purpose was fulfilled. However, space agencies are now working to ensure they do not add to the space debris. If Cluster had retired in 2002 as intended, the four satellites would have been left up in space. Allowing a satellite to fall to Earth itself assuming it burns up upon re-entry also poses a danger to people as the satellite is still likely to spread debris. A guided re-entry lets operators get it to fall exactly in the place they have in mind. However, ESA says that it is highly unlikely that a defunct satellite will inflict damage. But ESA is still eager to work on guide re-entries.

Salsa satellite set for fiery re-entry on Sep 8. Rumba, Tango and Samba lined up next

In Cuba, the home of salsa, young people are being seduced by a music phenomenon from a place that could hardly be more geographically -- or ideologically -- remote.

K-pop, the South Korean sensation that has already swept over much of the rest of the world, has made it to the shores of a communist isle that once banned the music of the Beatles.

"I am myself (with) K-pop. I can free myself," said afficionado Mikel Caballero, a 17-year-old who like many of his peers, spends hours each week perfecting the carefully choreographed paces of South Korean sensations like BTS and Blackpink.

Since Cubans gained access to the mobile internet just five years ago, much has changed in a nation where the one-party state nevertheless retains a firm grip on many aspects of life.

There are ride and food-delivery apps, social media, and access to some entertainment sites such as YouTube.

Some Cubans now celebrate Halloween, one of the most quintessential festivals of the United States -- which has held sanctions against Caribbean nation for more than six decades.

- 'I like everything' - 
 
Caballero's friend Samyla Trujillo has been a K-pop devotee for the last four of her 14 years on Earth. 
"When I saw BTS... I told myself: 'I want to dance like them," Trujillo told AFP, her hair dyed bright red in homage to the fashion of her idols.

"And then, when they showed me Blackpink, I thought: 'Ooh, they're girls, I want to be like them!"

She has posters and T-shirts plastered with K-pop artists' faces, and watches K-dramas with subtitles.

In the house she shares with her grandmother in the capital Havana, Trujillo regularly transforms the lounge into a dance floor for her and Caballero to practice the steps for their K-pop routines.&nbsp;

It is serious business: one day, Trujillo -- who was in a traditional Caribbean dance troupe as a child -- hopes to become Cuba's first home-grown K-pop idol. 
For Trujillo and Caballero both the dream is to go to Seoul one day. "I like everything from there," the 17-year-old told AFP with bright eyes.

Cuba has diplomatic ties with fellow-communist nation North Korea, but not with its democratic neighbor to the south.

- 'Completely new' - 
 
Alejandro Achin, 21, said K-pop "is a completely new experience" for Cubans, who are "used to always the same rhythm, the same routine" of salsa and Reggaeton.

In 2019, Achin realized a personal dream of performing in Seoul after winning an amateur K-pop competition with his group in Havana. 
For Hohyun Joung, who teaches at a South Korean cultural and language center which opened its doors in the Cuban capital last year, K-pop has a universal appeal that transcends politics.

"In Korean songs... most of them express the concerns of young people, what they think, their concern about the future," the South Korean national told AFP.

The center where she teaches with four Cubans has 150 students and not enough space to admit more as the appetite for everything South Korean just keeps growing.

Student Ia Gonzalez, 20, has been learning Korean at the center for several months and gets excited every time she recognizes a word in some of her favorite K-pop songs.

"Korean is not difficult. There are difficult parts, but when you really love what you're doing, you invest impetus and passion and you can learn," she told AFP. 
&nbsp;

In Cuba, the home of salsa, young people are being seduced by a music phenomenon from a place that could hardly be more geographically -- or ideologically -- remote.

In Cuba, the home of salsa, young people are being seduced by a music phenomenon from a place that could hardly be more geographically -- or ideologically -- remote. K-pop, the South Korean sensation that has already swept over much of the rest of the world, has made it to the shores of a communist isle that once banned the music of the Beatles. "I am myself (with) K-pop. I can free myself," said afficionado Mikel Caballero, a 17-year-old who like many of his peers, spends hours each week perfecting the carefully choreographed paces of South Korean sensations like BTS and Blackpink. Since Cubans gained access to the mobile internet just five years ago, much has changed in a nation where the one-party state nevertheless retains a firm grip on many aspects of life. There are ride and food-delivery apps, social media, and access to some entertainment sites such as YouTube. Some Cubans now celebrate Halloween, one of the most quintessential festivals of the United States -- which has held sanctions against Caribbean nation for more than six decades. - 'I like everything' - Caballero's friend Samyla Trujillo has been a K-pop devotee for the last four of her 14 years on Earth. "When I saw BTS... I told myself: 'I want to dance like them," Trujillo told AFP, her hair dyed bright red in homage to the fashion of her idols. "And then, when they showed me Blackpink, I thought: 'Ooh, they're girls, I want to be like them!" She has posters and T-shirts plastered with K-pop artists' faces, and watches K-dramas with subtitles. In the house she shares with her grandmother in the capital Havana, Trujillo regularly transforms the lounge into a dance floor for her and Caballero to practice the steps for their K-pop routines. It is serious business: one day, Trujillo -- who was in a traditional Caribbean dance troupe as a child -- hopes to become Cuba's first home-grown K-pop idol. For Trujillo and Caballero both the dream is to go to Seoul one day. "I like everything from there," the 17-year-old told AFP with bright eyes. Cuba has diplomatic ties with fellow-communist nation North Korea, but not with its democratic neighbor to the south. - 'Completely new' - Alejandro Achin, 21, said K-pop "is a completely new experience" for Cubans, who are "used to always the same rhythm, the same routine" of salsa and Reggaeton. In 2019, Achin realized a personal dream of performing in Seoul after winning an amateur K-pop competition with his group in Havana. For Hohyun Joung, who teaches at a South Korean cultural and language center which opened its doors in the Cuban capital last year, K-pop has a universal appeal that transcends politics. "In Korean songs... most of them express the concerns of young people, what they think, their concern about the future," the South Korean national told AFP. The center where she teaches with four Cubans has 150 students and not enough space to admit more as the appetite for everything South Korean just keeps growing. Student Ia Gonzalez, 20, has been learning Korean at the center for several months and gets excited every time she recognizes a word in some of her favorite K-pop songs. "Korean is not difficult. There are difficult parts, but when you really love what you're doing, you invest impetus and passion and you can learn," she told AFP.

K-pop seduces youth in communist Cuba, birthplace of salsa

Wearing black attire, the flamenco, salsa, ballet, tap and even hip-hop dancers sat on the square in front of the Catalan regional government building and broke out into different dances demanding that they be allowed to teach and practice again.

Spanish dance schools protest virus restrictions

Bolivia's elaborate ballrooms had been heaving with couples twirling to mambo, doing the cha-cha-cha and swinging to salsa for decades until the coronavirus pandemic hit in March.

Bolivia's elaborate dance halls eager to reopen after months-long lockdown

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