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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

Dove 227b

Re-entered 27 Mar 2024

Dove 227b (NORAD 46291, COSPAR 2020-061V) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 27 Mar 2024, launched on 3 Sep 2020 on the SSMS mission. It was operated by Planet Labs as part of the Flock-4 programme. The spacecraft was built by PLAN on the Cubesat 3U bus, with a mass of 5.7 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.

2020
launched
2024
re-entered
4
years on orbit
5.7
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched3 Sep 2020 · on the SSMS mission
Operational22 Jan 2024 · entered service
Retired22 Jan 2024 · end of operational service
Re-entered27 Mar 2024 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID46291
COSPAR2020-061V
TypeSatellite
OperatorPlanet Labs
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerPLAN
BusCubesat 3U
Mass5.7 kg
ProgrammeFlock-4
CategoryIMG
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude533 × 535 km
Inclination97.5°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Dove 227b?

Dove 227b re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 27 Mar 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 Dove 227b re-enter the atmosphere?

Dove 227b re-entered on 27 Mar 2024, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Dove 227b?

Dove 227b was operated by Planet Labs and built by PLAN (US).

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.