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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

LightSail-B

Re-entered 17 Nov 2022

LightSail-B (NORAD 44420, COSPAR 2019-036AC) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 17 Nov 2022, launched on 25 Jun 2019 on the STP-2 mission. It was operated by TPS as part of the TPS programme. The spacecraft was built by STELEX 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.

2019
launched
2022
re-entered
3
years on orbit
4
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched25 Jun 2019 · on the STP-2 mission
Operational14 Nov 2022 · entered service
Retired14 Nov 2022 · end of operational service
Re-entered17 Nov 2022 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID44420
COSPAR2019-036AC
TypeSatellite
OperatorTPS
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerSTELEX
BusCubesat 3U
Mass4 kg
ProgrammeTPS
CategoryTECH
OrbitLEO (LEO/E)
Altitude709 × 725 km
Inclination24.0°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to LightSail-B?

LightSail-B re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 17 Nov 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 LightSail-B re-enter the atmosphere?

LightSail-B re-entered on 17 Nov 2022, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built LightSail-B?

LightSail-B was operated by TPS and built by STELEX (US).

Launched together

Prox-1NORAD 44339Oculus-ASR Sphere 1Re-entered 2019Prometheus 2.6Re-entered 2022NPSAT-1NORAD 44340Orbital Test BedNORAD 44341GPIMRe-entered 2020COSMIC-2 FM3NORAD 44343DSXNORAD 44344
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.