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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

OV-102

Re-entered 13 Aug 1989

OV-102 (NORAD 20164, COSPAR 1989-061A) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 13 Aug 1989, launched on 8 Aug 1989 on the OV-102 Medium deploy mission. It was operated by JSC as part of the OV-102 programme. The spacecraft was built by RWI on the STS OV bus, with a mass of 95,012 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.

1989
launched
1989
re-entered
0
years on orbit
95,012
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched8 Aug 1989 · on the OV-102 Medium deploy mission
Operational13 Aug 1989 · entered service
Retired13 Aug 1989 · end of operational service
Re-entered13 Aug 1989 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID20164
COSPAR1989-061A
TypeSatellite
OperatorJSC
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerRWI
BusSTS OV
Mass95,012 kg (89,205 kg dry)
ProgrammeOV-102
CategorySS
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude294 × 308 km
Inclination57.0°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to OV-102?

OV-102 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 13 Aug 1989, ending a mission that began with its launch in 1989. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did OV-102 re-enter the atmosphere?

OV-102 re-entered on 13 Aug 1989, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built OV-102?

OV-102 was operated by JSC and built by RWI (US).

Launched together

QUASAR 7NORAD 20167GLORIA IRe-entered 1991
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.
Browse the live satellite directory → Re-entered satellites archive → Launch record: OV-102 Medium deploy → What is space debris? →