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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

BIROS

Re-entered 22 Jan 2026

BIROS (NORAD 41604, COSPAR 2016-040F) was a D satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 22 Jan 2026, launched on 22 Jun 2016 on the PSLV Rideshare 07 mission. It was operated by DLR2 as part of the DLR Geo programme. The spacecraft was built by ASTFN/KTHR on the TET-X bus, with a mass of 130 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.

2016
launched
2026
re-entered
10
years on orbit
130
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched22 Jun 2016 · on the PSLV Rideshare 07 mission
Operational1 Dec 2025 · entered service
Retired1 Dec 2025 · end of operational service
Re-entered22 Jan 2026 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID41604
COSPAR2016-040F
TypeSatellite
OperatorDLR2
Country / StateD
ManufacturerASTFN/KTHR
BusTET-X
Mass130 kg
ProgrammeDLR Geo
CategoryIMG
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude500 × 516 km
Inclination97.5°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to BIROS?

BIROS re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 22 Jan 2026, ending a mission that began with its launch in 2016. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did BIROS re-enter the atmosphere?

BIROS re-entered on 22 Jan 2026, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built BIROS?

BIROS was operated by DLR2 and built by ASTFN/KTHR (D).

Launched together

Cartosat-2CNORAD 41599SathyabamasatRe-entered 2023SkySat C1 (3)NORAD 41601GHGSat-DRe-entered 2024LAPAN-A3NORAD 41603exactView-7Re-entered 2025Dove 0E19Re-entered 2023SwayamRe-entered 2023
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.