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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

SERPENS

Re-entered 27 Mar 2016

SERPENS (NORAD 40897, COSPAR 1998-067GX) was a BR satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 27 Mar 2016, launched on 19 Aug 2015 on the 77KM No. 17501 mission. It was operated by AEB / UNB as part of the Brasilia programme. The spacecraft was built by UNB/VIGO 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
2016
re-entered
1
year on orbit
4
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched19 Aug 2015 · on the 77KM No. 17501 mission
Operational27 Mar 2016 · entered service
Retired27 Mar 2016 · end of operational service
Re-entered27 Mar 2016 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID40897
COSPAR1998-067GX
TypeSatellite
OperatorAEB / UNB
Country / StateBR
ManufacturerUNB/VIGO
BusCubesat 3U
Mass4 kg
ProgrammeBrasilia
CategoryTECH/COM
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude397 × 407 km
Inclination51.6°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to SERPENS?

SERPENS re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 27 Mar 2016, 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 SERPENS re-enter the atmosphere?

SERPENS re-entered on 27 Mar 2016, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built SERPENS?

SERPENS was operated by AEB / UNB and built by UNB/VIGO (BR).

Launched together

S-CUBERe-entered 2016AAUSAT5Re-entered 2016GOMX-3Re-entered 2016Dove 0C70Re-entered 2016Dove 0C18Re-entered 2016Dove 0C53Re-entered 2016Dove 0C72Re-entered 2016Dove 0C73Re-entered 2016
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.