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Its test of a drag sail, to speed its descent into the atmosphere, failed to deploy, so it is making slower progress to re-entry.

To bring it out of the sky faster than would ordinarily be the case, it has deployed a "drag sail".

"It is fantastic to see an image of TechDemoSat's deployed drag sail captured by the onboard inspection camera," said SSTL's managing director, Sarah Parker.

"This in-orbit image of a deployed drag sail on one of our satellites is a first for us and is a fitting culmination of mission operations for this highly innovative small satellite."

A drag sail expedites this process by providing more surface for the gas to hit.