Mercury Planetary Orbiter
Re-entered 20 Oct 2018Mercury Planetary Orbiter (NORAD 43653, COSPAR 2018-080A) was a I-ESA satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 20 Oct 2018, launched on 20 Oct 2018 on the BepiColombo mission. It was operated by ESA as part of the ESA Plan programme. The spacecraft was built by ADSUK on the MPO bus, with a mass of 1,838 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.
Lifecycle
Specifications
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Mercury Planetary Orbiter?
Mercury Planetary Orbiter re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 20 Oct 2018, 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 Mercury Planetary Orbiter re-enter the atmosphere?
Mercury Planetary Orbiter re-entered on 20 Oct 2018, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.
Who operated and built Mercury Planetary Orbiter?
Mercury Planetary Orbiter was operated by ESA and built by ADSUK (I-ESA).