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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

Tiantuo-5

Re-entered 19 Apr 2025

Tiantuo-5 (NORAD 46234, COSPAR 2020-058C) was a CN satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 19 Apr 2025, launched on 23 Aug 2020 on the Gao Fen 9-05 mission. It was operated by NUDTC as part of the Tiantuo programme. The spacecraft was built by NUDTC on the TT2 bus, with a mass of 20 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.

2020
launched
2025
re-entered
5
years on orbit
20
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched23 Aug 2020 · on the Gao Fen 9-05 mission
Operational1 Jan 2025 · entered service
Retired1 Jan 2025 · end of operational service
Re-entered19 Apr 2025 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID46234
COSPAR2020-058C
TypeSatellite
OperatorNUDTC
Country / StateCN
ManufacturerNUDTC
BusTT2
Mass20 kg
ProgrammeTiantuo
CategoryCOM
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude484 × 502 km
Inclination97.5°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Tiantuo-5?

Tiantuo-5 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 19 Apr 2025, ending a mission that began with its launch in 2020. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did Tiantuo-5 re-enter the atmosphere?

Tiantuo-5 re-entered on 19 Apr 2025, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Tiantuo-5?

Tiantuo-5 was operated by NUDTC and built by NUDTC (CN).

Launched together

Gaofen 9 05 xingNORAD 46232DGSWRe-entered 2025
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.