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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

Orion No. 16L

Re-entered 18 Oct 1979

Orion No. 16L (NORAD 11564, COSPAR 1979-088A) was a SU satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 18 Oct 1979, launched on 5 Oct 1979 on the Orion mission. It was operated by VTS as part of the Orion programme. The spacecraft was built by TSSKB on the Zenit-4MT bus, with a mass of 2,200 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
1979
re-entered
0
years on orbit
2,200
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched5 Oct 1979 · on the Orion mission
Operational18 Oct 1979 · entered service
Retired18 Oct 1979 · end of operational service
Re-entered18 Oct 1979 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID11564
COSPAR1979-088A
TypeSatellite
OperatorVTS
Country / StateSU
ManufacturerTSSKB
BusZenit-4MT
Mass2,200 kg
ProgrammeOrion
CategoryIMG
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude200 × 329 km
Inclination72.9°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Orion No. 16L?

Orion No. 16L re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 18 Oct 1979, 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 Orion No. 16L re-enter the atmosphere?

Orion No. 16L re-entered on 18 Oct 1979, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Orion No. 16L?

Orion No. 16L was operated by VTS and built by TSSKB (SU).

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