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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

QB50-AU01

Re-entered 21 Mar 2019

QB50-AU01 (NORAD 42730, COSPAR 1998-067MK) was a AU satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 21 Mar 2019, launched on 18 Apr 2017 on the 77KM No. 17501 mission. It was operated by ADEL as part of the Adelaide programme. The spacecraft was built by ADEL on the Cubesat 2U bus, with a mass of 2 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
2
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched18 Apr 2017 · on the 77KM No. 17501 mission
Operational18 Apr 2017 · entered service
Retired18 Apr 2017 · end of operational service
Re-entered21 Mar 2019 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID42730
COSPAR1998-067MK
TypeSatellite
OperatorADEL
Country / StateAU
ManufacturerADEL
BusCubesat 2U
Mass2 kg
ProgrammeAdelaide
CategorySCI
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude397 × 409 km
Inclination51.6°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to QB50-AU01?

QB50-AU01 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 21 Mar 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 QB50-AU01 re-enter the atmosphere?

QB50-AU01 re-entered on 21 Mar 2019, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built QB50-AU01?

QB50-AU01 was operated by ADEL and built by ADEL (AU).

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.