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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

CAS-3A

Re-entered 25 Apr 2023

CAS-3A (NORAD 40903, COSPAR 2015-049E) was a CN satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 25 Apr 2023, launched on 19 Sep 2015 on the Cluster mission. It was operated by CAMSAT as part of the XW programme. The spacecraft was built by CAMSAT on the XW2A bus, with a mass of 25 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
2023
re-entered
8
years on orbit
25
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched19 Sep 2015 · on the Cluster mission
Operational1 Apr 2023 · entered service
Retired1 Apr 2023 · end of operational service
Re-entered25 Apr 2023 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID40903
COSPAR2015-049E
TypeSatellite
OperatorCAMSAT
Country / StateCN
ManufacturerCAMSAT
BusXW2A
Mass25 kg
ProgrammeXW
CategoryCOM/SCI
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude518 × 536 km
Inclination97.5°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to CAS-3A?

CAS-3A re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 25 Apr 2023, 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 CAS-3A re-enter the atmosphere?

CAS-3A re-entered on 25 Apr 2023, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built CAS-3A?

CAS-3A was operated by CAMSAT and built by CAMSAT (CN).

Launched together

Tiantuo-3Re-entered 2025NUDT-Phone-SatRe-entered 2023ZDPS 2ARe-entered 2024ZDPS 2BRe-entered 2023Xinjishu Shiyan Weixing 2Re-entered 2024Naxing 2 haoNORAD NaNCAS-3CRe-entered 2025CAS-3DRe-entered 2024
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.