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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

PICASSO

Re-entered 9 Apr 2024

PICASSO (NORAD 46281, COSPAR 2020-061K) was a B satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 9 Apr 2024, launched on 3 Sep 2020 on the SSMS mission. It was operated by IASB as part of the IASB programme. The spacecraft was built by IASB/CLAAC 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.

2020
launched
2024
re-entered
4
years on orbit
4
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched3 Sep 2020 · on the SSMS mission
Operational1 Mar 2024 · entered service
Retired1 Mar 2024 · end of operational service
Re-entered9 Apr 2024 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID46281
COSPAR2020-061K
TypeSatellite
OperatorIASB
Country / StateB
ManufacturerIASB/CLAAC
BusCubesat 3U
Mass4 kg
ProgrammeIASB
CategoryEOSCI/SCI
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude534 × 536 km
Inclination97.5°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to PICASSO?

PICASSO re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 9 Apr 2024, 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 PICASSO re-enter the atmosphere?

PICASSO re-entered on 9 Apr 2024, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built PICASSO?

PICASSO was operated by IASB and built by IASB/CLAAC (B).

Launched together

Nusat-6Re-entered 2024Dove 2254Re-entered 2024Dove 241cRe-entered 2024SpaceBEE 21Re-entered 2023SpaceBEE 20Re-entered 2023SpaceBEE 15Re-entered 2023
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.