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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

ODERACS 6 inch sphere

Re-entered 13 Mar 1996

ODERACS 6 inch sphere (NORAD 23471, COSPAR 1995-004C) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 13 Mar 1996, launched on 3 Feb 1995 on the OV-103 Shuttle/Mir mission. It was operated by JSC as part of the ODERACS programme. The spacecraft was built by JSC on the ODERACS bus, with a mass of 4 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.

1995
launched
1996
re-entered
1
year on orbit
4
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched3 Feb 1995 · on the OV-103 Shuttle/Mir mission
Operational4 Feb 1995 · entered service
Retired4 Feb 1995 · end of operational service
Re-entered13 Mar 1996 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID23471
COSPAR1995-004C
TypeSatellite
OperatorJSC
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerJSC
BusODERACS
Mass4 kg
ProgrammeODERACS
CategoryCAL
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude325 × 346 km
Inclination51.7°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to ODERACS 6 inch sphere?

ODERACS 6 inch sphere re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 13 Mar 1996, ending a mission that began with its launch in 1995. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did ODERACS 6 inch sphere re-enter the atmosphere?

ODERACS 6 inch sphere re-entered on 13 Mar 1996, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built ODERACS 6 inch sphere?

ODERACS 6 inch sphere was operated by JSC and built by JSC (US).

Launched together

OV-103Re-entered 1995SPTN-204Re-entered 1995ODERACS 4 inch sphereRe-entered 1995ODERACS 2 inch sphereRe-entered 1996
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.