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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

Tiankun-1

Re-entered 7 Jul 2023

Tiankun-1 (NORAD 42061, COSPAR 2017-012A) was a CN satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 7 Jul 2023, launched on 2 Mar 2017 on the Tiankun-1 mission. It was operated by CHFEN as part of the Tiankun programme. The spacecraft was built by CHFEN on the TK-1 bus, with a mass of 300 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.

2017
launched
2023
re-entered
6
years on orbit
300
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched2 Mar 2017 · on the Tiankun-1 mission
Operational7 Apr 2023 · entered service
Retired1 Jun 2023 · end of operational service
Re-entered7 Jul 2023 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID42061
COSPAR2017-012A
TypeSatellite
OperatorCHFEN
Country / StateCN
ManufacturerCHFEN
BusTK-1
Mass300 kg
ProgrammeTiankun
CategoryTECH
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude384 × 406 km
Inclination96.9°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Tiankun-1?

Tiankun-1 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 7 Jul 2023, ending a mission that began with its launch in 2017. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did Tiankun-1 re-enter the atmosphere?

Tiankun-1 re-entered on 7 Jul 2023, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

How long was Tiankun-1 operational?

Tiankun-1 was operational for roughly 2 months, from 7 Apr 2023 to 1 Jun 2023.

Who operated and built Tiankun-1?

Tiankun-1 was operated by CHFEN and built by CHFEN (CN).

Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.