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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

OPS-SAT

Re-entered 22 May 2024

OPS-SAT (NORAD 44878, COSPAR 2019-092F) was a I-ESA satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 22 May 2024, launched on 18 Dec 2019 on the CSG-1/CHEOPS mission. It was operated by ESA as part of the ESA Cube programme. The spacecraft was built by TUG/GOMSP on the Cubesat 3U bus, with a mass of 7 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
2024
re-entered
5
years on orbit
7
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched18 Dec 2019 · on the CSG-1/CHEOPS mission
Operational1 Apr 2024 · entered service
Retired1 Apr 2024 · end of operational service
Re-entered22 May 2024 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID44878
COSPAR2019-092F
TypeSatellite
OperatorESA
Country / StateI-ESA
ManufacturerTUG/GOMSP
BusCubesat 3U
Mass7 kg
ProgrammeESA Cube
CategoryTECH
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude511 × 529 km
Inclination97.5°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to OPS-SAT?

OPS-SAT re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 22 May 2024, 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 OPS-SAT re-enter the atmosphere?

OPS-SAT re-entered on 22 May 2024, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built OPS-SAT?

OPS-SAT was operated by ESA and built by TUG/GOMSP (I-ESA).

Launched together

COSMO-Skymed Second Gen 1NORAD 44873CHEOPSNORAD 44874ANGELSRe-entered 2026EyeSatRe-entered 2023
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.