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Meteor-Priroda No. 2-3

Re-entered 1 Mar 2024

Meteor-Priroda No. 2-3 (NORAD 11251, COSPAR 1979-005A) was a SU satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 1 Mar 2024, launched on 25 Jan 1979 on the Meteor-Priroda No. 2-3 mission. It was operated by PRIR as part of the Meteor-Priroda programme. The spacecraft was built by VNIEM on the Meteor-2 bus, with a mass of 1,280 kg. Like most satellites in low orbits, it was gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until re-entry. Historical record from Orbital Radar's satellite archive, cross-referenced with the live satellite catalogue.

1979
launched
2024
re-entered
45
years on orbit
1,280
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched25 Jan 1979 · on the Meteor-Priroda No. 2-3 mission
Operational28 Oct 1981 · entered service
Retired28 Oct 1981 · end of operational service
Re-entered1 Mar 2024 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID11251
COSPAR1979-005A
TypeSatellite
OperatorPRIR
Country / StateSU
ManufacturerVNIEM
BusMeteor-2
Mass1,280 kg
ProgrammeMeteor-Priroda
CategoryIMG
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude563 × 621 km
Inclination97.6°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Meteor-Priroda No. 2-3?

Meteor-Priroda No. 2-3 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 1 Mar 2024, ending a mission that began with its launch in 1979. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did Meteor-Priroda No. 2-3 re-enter the atmosphere?

Meteor-Priroda No. 2-3 re-entered on 1 Mar 2024, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Meteor-Priroda No. 2-3?

Meteor-Priroda No. 2-3 was operated by PRIR and built by VNIEM (SU).

Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.