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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

CHEFsat

Re-entered 2 Jan 2022

CHEFsat (NORAD 43044, COSPAR 2017-071H) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 2 Jan 2022, launched on 12 Nov 2017 on the Cygnus OA-8 mission. It was operated by NRL as part of the NRL Cube programme. The spacecraft was built by NRL on the Cubesat 3U bus, with a mass of 5 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
2022
re-entered
5
years on orbit
5
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched12 Nov 2017 · on the Cygnus OA-8 mission
Operational1 Dec 2021 · entered service
Retired1 Dec 2021 · end of operational service
Re-entered2 Jan 2022 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID43044
COSPAR2017-071H
TypeSatellite
OperatorNRL
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerNRL
BusCubesat 3U
Mass5 kg
ProgrammeNRL Cube
CategoryTECH
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude437 × 469 km
Inclination51.6°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to CHEFsat?

CHEFsat re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 2 Jan 2022, 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 CHEFsat re-enter the atmosphere?

CHEFsat re-entered on 2 Jan 2022, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built CHEFsat?

CHEFsat was operated by NRL and built by NRL (US).

Launched together

EcAMSatRe-entered 2017TES-6Re-entered 2017Cygnus OA-8Re-entered 2017Lemur FM51Re-entered 2022AC-7BRe-entered 2022AC-7CRe-entered 2022Lemur FM52Re-entered 2022Lemur FM53Re-entered 2022
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.