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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

5 cm cube, 0.4 kg

Re-entered 1 Oct 2024

5 cm cube, 0.4 kg (NORAD 39443, COSPAR 2013-066AD) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 1 Oct 2024, launched on 21 Nov 2013 on the Dnepr Rideshare 8 mission. It was operated by UMBC as part of the UMBC programme. The spacecraft was built by UMBC on the PocketQub 2.5P bus, with a mass of 0.4 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.

2013
launched
2024
re-entered
11
years on orbit
0.4
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched21 Nov 2013 · on the Dnepr Rideshare 8 mission
Operational1 Jan 2015 · entered service
Retired1 Jan 2015 · end of operational service
Re-entered1 Oct 2024 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID39443
COSPAR2013-066AD
TypeSatellite
OperatorUMBC
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerUMBC
BusPocketQub 2.5P
Mass0.4 kg
ProgrammeUMBC
CategoryTECH
OrbitLEO (LEO/S)
Altitude590 × 639 km
Inclination97.8°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to 5 cm cube, 0.4 kg?

5 cm cube, 0.4 kg re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 1 Oct 2024, 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 5 cm cube, 0.4 kg re-enter the atmosphere?

5 cm cube, 0.4 kg re-entered on 1 Oct 2024, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built 5 cm cube, 0.4 kg?

5 cm cube, 0.4 kg was operated by UMBC and built by UMBC (US).

Launched together

AprizeSat-7Re-entered 2014ManolitoNORAD 39440KrysaorNORAD 39441PUCP-Sat-1NORAD 39442FUNcube-1NORAD 39444HiNCube-1NORAD 39445UWE-3NORAD 39446ZACUBE-1NORAD 39417
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.