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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

Kometa No. 12L

Re-entered 28 Jun 1990

Kometa No. 12L (NORAD 20615, COSPAR 1990-044A) was a SU satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 28 Jun 1990, launched on 15 May 1990 on the Kometa No. 12 mission. It was operated by VTS as part of the Kometa programme. The spacecraft was built by TSSKB on the Yantar'-1KFT bus, with a mass of 2,720 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.

1990
launched
1990
re-entered
0
years on orbit
2,720
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched15 May 1990 · on the Kometa No. 12 mission
Operational28 Jun 1990 · entered service
Retired28 Jun 1990 · end of operational service
Re-entered28 Jun 1990 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID20615
COSPAR1990-044A
TypeSatellite
OperatorVTS
Country / StateSU
ManufacturerTSSKB
BusYantar'-1KFT
Mass2,720 kg
ProgrammeKometa
CategoryIMG
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude211 × 275 km
Inclination70.0°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Kometa No. 12L?

Kometa No. 12L re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 28 Jun 1990, ending a mission that began with its launch in 1990. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did Kometa No. 12L re-enter the atmosphere?

Kometa No. 12L re-entered on 28 Jun 1990, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Kometa No. 12L?

Kometa No. 12L 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.