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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

Dummy subsatellite?

Re-entered 17 Jul 1960

Dummy subsatellite? (NORAD 33, COSPAR 1960 GAM 3) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 17 Jul 1960, launched on 13 Apr 1960. It was operated by APL as part of the GRAB programme. The spacecraft was built by APL on the Dummy bus, with a mass of 2 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.

1960
launched
1960
re-entered
0
years on orbit
2
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched13 Apr 1960
Operational13 Apr 1960 · entered service
Retired13 Apr 1960 · end of operational service
Re-entered17 Jul 1960 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID33
COSPAR1960 GAM 3
TypeSatellite
OperatorAPL
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerAPL
BusDummy
Mass2 kg
ProgrammeGRAB
CategoryTECH
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude285 × 663 km
Inclination51.3°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Dummy subsatellite??

Dummy subsatellite? re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 17 Jul 1960, ending a mission that began with its launch in 1960. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did Dummy subsatellite? re-enter the atmosphere?

Dummy subsatellite? re-entered on 17 Jul 1960, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Dummy subsatellite??

Dummy subsatellite? was operated by APL and built by APL (US).

Launched together

Transit 1BRe-entered 1967
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.