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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

LacunaSat 3

Re-entered 4 Feb 2025

LacunaSat 3 (NORAD 46492, COSPAR 2020-068G) was a UK satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 4 Feb 2025, launched on 28 Sep 2020 on the Gonets-M No. 27/28/29 mission. It was operated by LACU / NANAVU as part of the Lacuna programme. The spacecraft was built by NANAV 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
2025
re-entered
5
years on orbit
4
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched28 Sep 2020 · on the Gonets-M No. 27/28/29 mission
Operational1 Jan 2025 · entered service
Retired1 Jan 2025 · end of operational service
Re-entered4 Feb 2025 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID46492
COSPAR2020-068G
TypeSatellite
OperatorLACU / NANAVU
Country / StateUK
ManufacturerNANAV
BusCubesat 3U
Mass4 kg
ProgrammeLacuna
CategoryCOM
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude552 × 567 km
Inclination97.7°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to LacunaSat 3?

LacunaSat 3 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 4 Feb 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 LacunaSat 3 re-enter the atmosphere?

LacunaSat 3 re-entered on 4 Feb 2025, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built LacunaSat 3?

LacunaSat 3 was operated by LACU / NANAVU and built by NANAV (UK).

Launched together

Gonets-M No. 27LNORAD 46486Gonets-M No. 28LNORAD 46487Gonets-M No. 29LNORAD 46488MeznSatRe-entered 2025Yarilo-1Re-entered 2025Yarilo-2Re-entered 2025DekartNORAD 46493NorbyNORAD 46494
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.