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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

Altair 1

Re-entered 8 Dec 2019

Altair 1 (NORAD 42711, COSPAR 1998-067LS) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 8 Dec 2019, launched on 18 Apr 2017 on the 77KM No. 17501 mission. It was operated by MILLES as part of the MilSS programme. The spacecraft was built by MILLES on the Cubesat 1x6U 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.

2017
launched
2019
re-entered
2
years on orbit
4
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched18 Apr 2017 · on the 77KM No. 17501 mission
Operational1 Nov 2019 · entered service
Retired1 Nov 2019 · end of operational service
Re-entered8 Dec 2019 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID42711
COSPAR1998-067LS
TypeSatellite
OperatorMILLES
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerMILLES
BusCubesat 1x6U
Mass4 kg
ProgrammeMilSS
CategoryTECH
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude401 × 404 km
Inclination51.6°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Altair 1?

Altair 1 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 8 Dec 2019, 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 Altair 1 re-enter the atmosphere?

Altair 1 re-entered on 8 Dec 2019, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Altair 1?

Altair 1 was operated by MILLES and built by MILLES (US).

Launched together

QB50-TR02Re-entered 2019QB50-DE02Re-entered 2019QB50-US04/QBUS 4Re-entered 2018KySat-3Re-entered 2018CXBN-2Re-entered 2019IceCubeRe-entered 2018QB50-TW01Re-entered 2019QB50-FR01Re-entered 2019
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.