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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

UNITE

Re-entered 21 Oct 2021

UNITE (NORAD 44031, COSPAR 1998-067PX) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 21 Oct 2021, launched on 5 Dec 2018 on the 77KM No. 17501 mission. It was operated by USIN as part of the USI programme. The spacecraft was built by USIN 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
2021
re-entered
3
years on orbit
1
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched5 Dec 2018 · on the 77KM No. 17501 mission
Operational22 Oct 2021 · entered service
Retired22 Oct 2021 · end of operational service
Re-entered21 Oct 2021 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID44031
COSPAR1998-067PX
TypeSatellite
OperatorUSIN
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerUSIN
BusCubesat 1U
Mass1 kg
ProgrammeUSI
CategorySCI
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude403 × 407 km
Inclination51.6°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to UNITE?

UNITE re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 21 Oct 2021, 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 UNITE re-enter the atmosphere?

UNITE re-entered on 21 Oct 2021, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built UNITE?

UNITE was operated by USIN and built by USIN (US).

Launched together

CATSat-2Re-entered 2021AUSAT-1Re-entered 2021TES-8Re-entered 2020CATSat-1Re-entered 2021Quantum Radar 1Re-entered 2023Quantum Radar 2Re-entered 2023Dragon C112Re-entered 2018
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.