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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

SMART-1

Re-entered 9 Jul 2004

SMART-1 (NORAD 27949, COSPAR 2003-043C) was a I-ESA satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 9 Jul 2004, launched on 27 Sep 2003 on the e-Bird mission. It was operated by ESA as part of the ESA Plan programme. The spacecraft was built by SSC/SAABSA on the SMART bus, with a mass of 370 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.

2003
launched
2004
re-entered
1
year on orbit
370
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched27 Sep 2003 · on the e-Bird mission
Operational3 Sep 2006 · entered service
Retired3 Sep 2006 · end of operational service
Re-entered9 Jul 2004 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID27949
COSPAR2003-043C
TypeSatellite
OperatorESA
Country / StateI-ESA
ManufacturerSSC/SAABSA
BusSMART
Mass370 kg (255 kg dry)
ProgrammeESA Plan
CategoryPLAN
OrbitLEO (DSO)
Altitude21,223 × 151,452 km
Inclination6.8°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to SMART-1?

SMART-1 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 9 Jul 2004, ending a mission that began with its launch in 2003. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did SMART-1 re-enter the atmosphere?

SMART-1 re-entered on 9 Jul 2004, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built SMART-1?

SMART-1 was operated by ESA and built by SSC/SAABSA (I-ESA).

Launched together

e-BirdRe-entered 2012Insat 3ENORAD 27951
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.