OPS 7245

Re-entered 1 May 2021

OPS 7245 (NORAD 11720, COSPAR 1980-019A) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 1 May 2021, launched on 3 Mar 1980 on the PARCAE 3 mission. It is catalogued as PARCAE 3. It was operated by NRO / NRL as part of the PARCAE programme. The spacecraft was built by MM on the NOSS MSD bus, with a mass of 559 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.

1980

launched

2021

re-entered

years on orbit

559

kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched3 Mar 1980 · on the PARCAE 3 mission

Operational1 Jan 1985 · entered service

Retired1 Jan 1985 · end of operational service

Re-entered1 May 2021 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID11720

COSPAR1980-019A

TypeSatellite

OperatorNRO / NRL

Country / StateUS

ManufacturerMM

BusNOSS MSD

Mass559 kg

ProgrammePARCAE

CategorySIG

OrbitLEO (LEO/I)

Altitude1,056 × 1,163 km

Inclination63.5°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to OPS 7245?

OPS 7245 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 1 May 2021, ending a mission that began with its launch in 1980. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did OPS 7245 re-enter the atmosphere?

OPS 7245 re-entered on 1 May 2021, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built OPS 7245?

OPS 7245 was operated by NRO / NRL and built by MM (US).

Launched together

PARCAE 3 SSU 1NORAD 11731 PARCAE 3 SSU 2NORAD 11732 PARCAE 3 SSU 3Re-entered 2021

Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-10-05.

Browse the live satellite directory → Re-entered satellites archive → Launch record: PARCAE 3 → What is space debris? →