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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

Surveyor SC-7

Re-entered 9 Jan 1968

Surveyor SC-7 (NORAD 3091, COSPAR 1968-001A) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 9 Jan 1968, launched on 7 Jan 1968 on the Surveyor SC-7 mission. It was operated by JPL as part of the Surveyor A-21A programme. The spacecraft was built by JPL on the Surveyor bus, with a mass of 378 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.

1968
launched
1968
re-entered
0
years on orbit
378
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched7 Jan 1968 · on the Surveyor SC-7 mission
Operational21 Feb 1968 · entered service
Retired21 Feb 1968 · end of operational service
Re-entered9 Jan 1968 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID3091
COSPAR1968-001A
TypeSatellite
OperatorJPL
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerJPL
BusSurveyor
Mass378 kg (305 kg dry)
ProgrammeSurveyor A-21A
CategoryPLAN
OrbitBEO (CLO)
Altitude166 × 729,739 km
Inclination30.7°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Surveyor SC-7?

Surveyor SC-7 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 9 Jan 1968, ending a mission that began with its launch in 1968. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did Surveyor SC-7 re-enter the atmosphere?

Surveyor SC-7 re-entered on 9 Jan 1968, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Surveyor SC-7?

Surveyor SC-7 was operated by JPL and built by JPL (US).

Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.