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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

POPACS 1

Re-entered 26 Jan 2026

POPACS 1 (NORAD 39268, COSPAR 2013-055D) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 26 Jan 2026, launched on 29 Sep 2013 on the Cassiope mission. It was operated by POPACS as part of the Starshine programme. The spacecraft was built by PSC on the POPACS bus, with a mass of 1 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.

2013
launched
2026
re-entered
13
years on orbit
1
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched29 Sep 2013 · on the Cassiope mission
Operational29 Sep 2013 · entered service
Retired29 Sep 2013 · end of operational service
Re-entered26 Jan 2026 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID39268
COSPAR2013-055D
TypeSatellite
OperatorPOPACS
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerPSC
BusPOPACS
Mass1 kg
ProgrammeStarshine
CategorySCI
OrbitLEO (LEO/I)
Altitude324 × 1,476 km
Inclination81.0°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to POPACS 1?

POPACS 1 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 26 Jan 2026, ending a mission that began with its launch in 2013. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did POPACS 1 re-enter the atmosphere?

POPACS 1 re-entered on 26 Jan 2026, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built POPACS 1?

POPACS 1 was operated by POPACS and built by PSC (US).

Launched together

CASSIOPENORAD 39265CUSat BottomRe-entered 2026DANDENORAD 39267POPACS 2NORAD 39269POPACS 3NORAD 39270
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-16.