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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

Optical CubeSat 1

Re-entered 1 Jan 2022

Optical CubeSat 1 (NORAD 40653, COSPAR 2015-025C) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 1 Jan 2022, launched on 20 May 2015 on the X-37B No. 2? mission. It was operated by AFRL? as part of the CP Opt programme. The spacecraft was built by CALP 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.

2015
launched
2022
re-entered
7
years on orbit
4
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched20 May 2015 · on the X-37B No. 2? mission
Operational20 May 2015 · entered service
Retired20 May 2015 · end of operational service
Re-entered1 Jan 2022 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID40653
COSPAR2015-025C
TypeSatellite
OperatorAFRL?
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerCALP
BusCubesat 3U
Mass4 kg
ProgrammeCP Opt
CategoryCAL
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude356 × 700 km
Inclination55.0°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Optical CubeSat 1?

Optical CubeSat 1 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 1 Jan 2022, ending a mission that began with its launch in 2015. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did Optical CubeSat 1 re-enter the atmosphere?

Optical CubeSat 1 re-entered on 1 Jan 2022, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Optical CubeSat 1?

Optical CubeSat 1 was operated by AFRL? and built by CALP (US).

Launched together

X-37B No. 2 F2Re-entered 2017Unix Space Server LangleyRe-entered 2023ParkinsonSat-1Re-entered 2021BRICSat-PRe-entered 2024Optical CubeSat 2Re-entered 2023GEARRS-2Re-entered 2022Optical CubeSat 3Re-entered 2023AC-8aRe-entered 2021
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.