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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

TYVAK-61c

Re-entered 8 Apr 2023

TYVAK-61c (NORAD 43144, COSPAR 2018-004AK) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 8 Apr 2023, launched on 12 Jan 2018 on the PSLV Rideshare 11 mission. It was operated by LLNL / TYVAK as part of the LLNL programme. The spacecraft was built by TYVAK on the Cubesat 3U bus, with a mass of 4 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
4
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched12 Jan 2018 · on the PSLV Rideshare 11 mission
Operational1 Mar 2023 · entered service
Retired1 Mar 2023 · end of operational service
Re-entered8 Apr 2023 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID43144
COSPAR2018-004AK
TypeSatellite
OperatorLLNL / TYVAK
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerTYVAK
BusCubesat 3U
Mass4 kg
ProgrammeLLNL
CategoryAST
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude493 × 504 km
Inclination97.6°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to TYVAK-61c?

TYVAK-61c re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 8 Apr 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 TYVAK-61c re-enter the atmosphere?

TYVAK-61c re-entered on 8 Apr 2023, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built TYVAK-61c?

TYVAK-61c was operated by LLNL / TYVAK and built by TYVAK (US).

Launched together

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