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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

STEP Cube Lab

Re-entered 23 May 2023

STEP Cube Lab (NORAD 43138, COSPAR 2018-004AD) was a KR satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 23 May 2023, launched on 12 Jan 2018 on the PSLV Rideshare 11 mission. It was operated by CHOSU as part of the Chosun programme. The spacecraft was built by CHOSU 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.

2018
launched
2023
re-entered
5
years on orbit
1
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched12 Jan 2018 · on the PSLV Rideshare 11 mission
Operational1 May 2023 · entered service
Retired1 May 2023 · end of operational service
Re-entered23 May 2023 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID43138
COSPAR2018-004AD
TypeSatellite
OperatorCHOSU
Country / StateKR
ManufacturerCHOSU
BusCubesat 1U
Mass1 kg
ProgrammeChosun
CategoryTECH
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude492 × 506 km
Inclination97.6°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to STEP Cube Lab?

STEP Cube Lab re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 23 May 2023, ending a mission that began with its launch in 2018. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did STEP Cube Lab re-enter the atmosphere?

STEP Cube Lab re-entered on 23 May 2023, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built STEP Cube Lab?

STEP Cube Lab was operated by CHOSU and built by CHOSU (KR).

Launched together

Cartosat-2ERNORAD 43111KAUSAT-5Re-entered 2023CANYVAL-X2Re-entered 2023Fox-1DRe-entered 2024SpaceBEE 4Re-entered 2022SpaceBEE 3Re-entered 2022SpaceBEE 2Re-entered 2022SpaceBEE 1Re-entered 2022
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.