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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

ACRUX 1

Re-entered 17 Jun 2022

ACRUX 1 (NORAD 44369, COSPAR 2019-037E) was a AU satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 17 Jun 2022, launched on 29 Jun 2019 on the BlackSky Global 3 mission. It was operated by MELB as part of the MSP programme. The spacecraft was built by MELB 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.

2019
launched
2022
re-entered
3
years on orbit
1
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched29 Jun 2019 · on the BlackSky Global 3 mission
Operational1 Aug 2019 · entered service
Retired1 Jun 2022 · end of operational service
Re-entered17 Jun 2022 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID44369
COSPAR2019-037E
TypeSatellite
OperatorMELB
Country / StateAU
ManufacturerMELB
BusCubesat 1U
Mass1 kg
ProgrammeMSP
CategoryTECH
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude439 × 460 km
Inclination45.0°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to ACRUX 1?

ACRUX 1 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 17 Jun 2022, ending a mission that began with its launch in 2019. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did ACRUX 1 re-enter the atmosphere?

ACRUX 1 re-entered on 17 Jun 2022, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

How long was ACRUX 1 operational?

ACRUX 1 was operational for roughly 3 years, from 1 Aug 2019 to 1 Jun 2022.

Who operated and built ACRUX 1?

ACRUX 1 was operated by MELB and built by MELB (AU).

Launched together

PAINANI-1Re-entered 2023Prometheus 2.9Re-entered 2022BlackSky Global 3Re-entered 2023SpaceBEE FM13Re-entered 2021SpaceBEE FM12Re-entered 2021Prometheus 2.7Re-entered 2022
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.