Pharmasat

Re-entered 14 Aug 2012

Pharmasat (NORAD 35002, COSPAR 2009-028B) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 14 Aug 2012, launched on 19 May 2009 on the Tacsat 3 mission. It was operated by ARC as part of the Ames programme. The spacecraft was built by ARC on the Cubesat 3U 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.

2009

launched

2012

re-entered

years on orbit

kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched19 May 2009 · on the Tacsat 3 mission

Operational27 May 2009 · entered service

Retired27 May 2009 · end of operational service

Re-entered14 Aug 2012 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID35002

COSPAR2009-028B

TypeSatellite

OperatorARC

Country / StateUS

ManufacturerARC

BusCubesat 3U

Mass4 kg

ProgrammeAmes

CategoryBIO

OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)

Altitude428 × 466 km

Inclination40.5°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Pharmasat?

Pharmasat re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 14 Aug 2012, ending a mission that began with its launch in 2009. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did Pharmasat re-enter the atmosphere?

Pharmasat re-entered on 14 Aug 2012, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Pharmasat?

Pharmasat was operated by ARC and built by ARC (US).

Launched together

Tacsat 3Re-entered 2012 CalPoly CP6Re-entered 2011 HawkSat-1Re-entered 2011 AC-3/Drag deviceRe-entered 2011

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

Browse the live satellite directory → Re-entered satellites archive → Launch record: Tacsat 3 → What is space debris? →