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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

KestrelEye II-M

Re-entered 18 Aug 2017

KestrelEye II-M (NORAD 42982, COSPAR 1998-067NE) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 18 Aug 2017, launched on 14 Aug 2017 on the 77KM No. 17501 mission. It was operated by SMDC as part of the KestrelEye programme. The spacecraft was built by AMAI on the KestrelEye bus, with a mass of 45 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
2017
re-entered
0
years on orbit
45
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched14 Aug 2017 · on the 77KM No. 17501 mission
Operational1 Aug 2018 · entered service
Retired1 Aug 2018 · end of operational service
Re-entered18 Aug 2017 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID42982
COSPAR1998-067NE
TypeSatellite
OperatorSMDC
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerAMAI
BusKestrelEye
Mass45 kg
ProgrammeKestrelEye
CategoryIMG
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude400 × 407 km
Inclination51.6°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to KestrelEye II-M?

KestrelEye II-M re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 18 Aug 2017, 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 KestrelEye II-M re-enter the atmosphere?

KestrelEye II-M re-entered on 18 Aug 2017, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built KestrelEye II-M?

KestrelEye II-M was operated by SMDC and built by AMAI (US).

Launched together

ASTERIARe-entered 2020DellingrRe-entered 2021OSIRIS-3URe-entered 2019Dragon C113Re-entered 2017
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.