🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD
CAT 03
Retired 1981CAT 03 (NORAD 12546, COSPAR 1981-057C) is a retired I-ESA satellite, withdrawn from service around 21 Jun 1981, launched on 19 Jun 1981 on the Meteosat F2 mission. It was operated by ESA as part of the CAT programme. The spacecraft was built by AERIT/CNEST on the CAT bus, with a mass of 266 kg. Historical record from Orbital Radar's satellite archive, cross-referenced with the live satellite catalogue.
1981
launched
1981
retired
45
years on orbit
266
kg mass
Lifecycle
Launched19 Jun 1981 · on the Meteosat F2 mission
Operational21 Jun 1981 · entered service
Retired21 Jun 1981 · end of operational service
StatusOn orbit (not live-tracked)
Specifications
NORAD ID12546
COSPAR1981-057C
TypeSatellite
OperatorESA
Country / StateI-ESA
ManufacturerAERIT/CNEST
BusCAT
Mass266 kg
ProgrammeCAT
CategoryTECH
OrbitHEO (GTO)
Altitude221 × 35,700 km
Inclination10.2°
Frequently asked questions
What happened to CAT 03?
CAT 03 was retired from service around 21 Jun 1981 after launching in 1981. It is no longer operational but remains catalogued.
Who operated and built CAT 03?
CAT 03 was operated by ESA and built by AERIT/CNEST (I-ESA).
Launched together
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-18.