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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

SPROUT

Re-entered 11 Aug 2024

SPROUT (NORAD 39770, COSPAR 2014-029E) was a J satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 11 Aug 2024, launched on 24 May 2014 on the ALOS-2 mission. It was operated by NIHON as part of the Nihon programme. The spacecraft was built by NIHON on the Sprout bus, with a mass of 7.1 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.

2014
launched
2024
re-entered
10
years on orbit
7.1
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched24 May 2014 · on the ALOS-2 mission
Operational1 Jul 2024 · entered service
Retired1 Jul 2024 · end of operational service
Re-entered11 Aug 2024 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID39770
COSPAR2014-029E
TypeSatellite
OperatorNIHON
Country / StateJ
ManufacturerNIHON
BusSprout
Mass7.1 kg
ProgrammeNihon
CategoryTECH
OrbitLEO (LEO/S)
Altitude613 × 628 km
Inclination97.9°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to SPROUT?

SPROUT re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 11 Aug 2024, ending a mission that began with its launch in 2014. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did SPROUT re-enter the atmosphere?

SPROUT re-entered on 11 Aug 2024, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built SPROUT?

SPROUT was operated by NIHON and built by NIHON (J).

Launched together

ALOS-2NORAD 39766UNIFORM-1NORAD 39767SOCRATESNORAD 39768RISING-2NORAD 39769
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.