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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

SHARC

Re-entered 3 May 2019

SHARC (NORAD 42712, COSPAR 1998-067LT) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 3 May 2019, launched on 18 Apr 2017 on the 77KM No. 17501 mission. It was operated by AFRL as part of the AFRL Cube programme. The spacecraft was built by AFRL on the Cubesat 5U bus, with a mass of 8 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
8
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched18 Apr 2017 · on the 77KM No. 17501 mission
Operational1 May 2019 · entered service
Retired1 May 2019 · end of operational service
Re-entered3 May 2019 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID42712
COSPAR1998-067LT
TypeSatellite
OperatorAFRL
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerAFRL
BusCubesat 5U
Mass8 kg
ProgrammeAFRL Cube
CategoryCAL
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude400 × 406 km
Inclination51.6°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to SHARC?

SHARC re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 3 May 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 SHARC re-enter the atmosphere?

SHARC re-entered on 3 May 2019, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built SHARC?

SHARC was operated by AFRL and built by AFRL (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.