HomeLibraryRe-entered SatellitesOrbital Express
🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

Orbital Express

Re-entered 6 May 2007

Orbital Express (NORAD 30772, COSPAR 2007-006A) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 6 May 2007, launched on 9 Mar 2007 on the Orbital Express mission. It was operated by DARPA2 as part of the STP2 programme. The spacecraft was built by BOPW on the OrbitalExpress bus, with a mass of 1,266 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.

2007
launched
2007
re-entered
0
years on orbit
1,266
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched9 Mar 2007 · on the Orbital Express mission
Operational22 Jul 2007 · entered service
Retired22 Jul 2007 · end of operational service
Re-entered6 May 2007 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID30772
COSPAR2007-006A
TypeSatellite
OperatorDARPA2
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerBOPW
BusOrbitalExpress
Mass1,266 kg (1,100 kg dry)
ProgrammeSTP2
CategoryTECH
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude490 × 498 km
Inclination46.0°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Orbital Express?

Orbital Express re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 6 May 2007, ending a mission that began with its launch in 2007. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did Orbital Express re-enter the atmosphere?

Orbital Express re-entered on 6 May 2007, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Orbital Express?

Orbital Express was operated by DARPA2 and built by BOPW (US).

Launched together

Midstar 1Re-entered 2023Orbital ExpressRe-entered 2023STPSat-1Re-entered 2023Falconsat-3Re-entered 2023CFESatRe-entered 2022
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.