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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

PropCube-2

Re-entered 30 Jul 2022

PropCube-2 (NORAD 43052, COSPAR 2017-071R) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 30 Jul 2022, launched on 12 Nov 2017 on the Cygnus OA-8 mission. It was operated by USNPS as part of the NPS programme. The spacecraft was built by TYVAK on the Cubesat 1U bus, with a mass of 1 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
1
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched12 Nov 2017 · on the Cygnus OA-8 mission
Operational1 Jul 2022 · entered service
Retired1 Jul 2022 · end of operational service
Re-entered30 Jul 2022 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID43052
COSPAR2017-071R
TypeSatellite
OperatorUSNPS
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerTYVAK
BusCubesat 1U
Mass1 kg
ProgrammeNPS
CategoryTECH
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude451 × 455 km
Inclination51.6°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to PropCube-2?

PropCube-2 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 30 Jul 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 PropCube-2 re-enter the atmosphere?

PropCube-2 re-entered on 30 Jul 2022, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built PropCube-2?

PropCube-2 was operated by USNPS and built by TYVAK (US).

Launched together

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