HomeLibraryRe-entered SatellitesGEARRS-2
🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

GEARRS-2

Re-entered 1 Jan 2022

GEARRS-2 (NORAD 40657, COSPAR 2015-025G) 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 NSL / AFRL as part of the NSL programme. The spacecraft was built by NSL 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
Operational1 Jan 2018 · entered service
Retired1 Jan 2018 · end of operational service
Re-entered1 Jan 2022 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID40657
COSPAR2015-025G
TypeSatellite
OperatorNSL / AFRL
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerNSL
BusCubesat 3U
Mass4 kg
ProgrammeNSL
CategoryCOM
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude356 × 700 km
Inclination55.0°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to GEARRS-2?

GEARRS-2 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 GEARRS-2 re-enter the atmosphere?

GEARRS-2 re-entered on 1 Jan 2022, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built GEARRS-2?

GEARRS-2 was operated by NSL / AFRL and built by NSL (US).

Launched together

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