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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

BelKA-2

Re-entered 17 Oct 2024

BelKA-2 (NORAD 38708, COSPAR 2012-039B) was a BY satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 17 Oct 2024, launched on 22 Jul 2012 on the Soyuz Rideshare 2 mission. It was operated by ANBEL as part of the BelKA programme. The spacecraft was built by VNIIEMI on the Kanopus bus, with a mass of 400 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.

2012
launched
2024
re-entered
12
years on orbit
400
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched22 Jul 2012 · on the Soyuz Rideshare 2 mission
Operational1 Sep 2024 · entered service
Retired1 Sep 2024 · end of operational service
Re-entered17 Oct 2024 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID38708
COSPAR2012-039B
TypeSatellite
OperatorANBEL
Country / StateBY
ManufacturerVNIIEMI
BusKanopus
Mass400 kg
ProgrammeBelKA
CategoryIMG
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude505 × 509 km
Inclination97.5°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to BelKA-2?

BelKA-2 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 17 Oct 2024, ending a mission that began with its launch in 2012. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did BelKA-2 re-enter the atmosphere?

BelKA-2 re-entered on 17 Oct 2024, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built BelKA-2?

BelKA-2 was operated by ANBEL and built by VNIIEMI (BY).

Launched together

Kanopus-VRe-entered 2024ADS-1BRe-entered 2020TET-1Re-entered 2022MKA-FKI No. 2320NORAD 38711
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.