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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

ELFIN

Re-entered 17 Sep 2022

ELFIN (NORAD 43617, COSPAR 2018-070E) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 17 Sep 2022, launched on 15 Sep 2018 on the ICESAT-2 mission. It was operated by UCLA as part of the UCLA programme. The spacecraft was built by UCLA 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
2022
re-entered
4
years on orbit
4
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched15 Sep 2018 · on the ICESAT-2 mission
Operational17 Sep 2022 · entered service
Retired17 Sep 2022 · end of operational service
Re-entered17 Sep 2022 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID43617
COSPAR2018-070E
TypeSatellite
OperatorUCLA
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerUCLA
BusCubesat 3U
Mass4 kg
ProgrammeUCLA
CategorySCI
OrbitLEO (LLEO/P)
Altitude443 × 469 km
Inclination93.0°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to ELFIN?

ELFIN re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 17 Sep 2022, 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 ELFIN re-enter the atmosphere?

ELFIN re-entered on 17 Sep 2022, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built ELFIN?

ELFIN was operated by UCLA and built by UCLA (US).

Launched together

ICESAT-2NORAD 43613SurfSatRe-entered 2023CalPoly CP7Re-entered 2023ELFIN-STARRe-entered 2022
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.