SEOPS-ORCA

Re-entered 14 Jan 2023

SEOPS-ORCA (NORAD 44418, COSPAR 2019-022H) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 14 Jan 2023, launched on 25 Jul 2019 on the Cygnus NG-11 mission. It was operated by DARPA2 / HYPGG as part of the ORCA programme. The spacecraft was built by HYPGG/BLCAN on the Cubesat 6U bus, with a mass of 8 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

2023

re-entered

years on orbit

kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched25 Jul 2019 · on the Cygnus NG-11 mission

Operational1 Dec 2022 · entered service

Retired1 Dec 2022 · end of operational service

Re-entered14 Jan 2023 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID44418

COSPAR2019-022H

TypeSatellite

OperatorDARPA2 / HYPGG

Country / StateUS

ManufacturerHYPGG/BLCAN

BusCubesat 6U

Mass8 kg

ProgrammeORCA

CategoryCOM

OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)

Altitude469 × 485 km

Inclination51.6°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to SEOPS-ORCA?

SEOPS-ORCA re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 14 Jan 2023, 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 SEOPS-ORCA re-enter the atmosphere?

SEOPS-ORCA re-entered on 14 Jan 2023, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built SEOPS-ORCA?

SEOPS-ORCA was operated by DARPA2 / HYPGG and built by HYPGG/BLCAN (US).

Launched together

NARSScube-2Re-entered 2024 Quantum Radar 3Re-entered 2023 RFTSatRe-entered 2023 Dragon C108Re-entered 2019

Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.

Browse the live satellite directory → Re-entered satellites archive → Launch record: Cygnus NG-11 → What is space debris? →