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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

CAPE 3

Re-entered 21 Feb 2024

CAPE 3 (NORAD 47309, COSPAR 2021-002A) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 21 Feb 2024, launched on 17 Jan 2021 on the Elana XX mission. It was operated by ULLAF as part of the ULALA programme. The spacecraft was built by ULLAF on the Cubesat 1U bus, with a mass of 1 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.

2021
launched
2024
re-entered
3
years on orbit
1
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched17 Jan 2021 · on the Elana XX mission
Operational1 Jan 2024 · entered service
Retired1 Jan 2024 · end of operational service
Re-entered21 Feb 2024 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID47309
COSPAR2021-002A
TypeSatellite
OperatorULLAF
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerULLAF
BusCubesat 1U
Mass1 kg
ProgrammeULALA
CategoryTECH
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude493 × 517 km
Inclination60.7°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to CAPE 3?

CAPE 3 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 21 Feb 2024, ending a mission that began with its launch in 2021. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did CAPE 3 re-enter the atmosphere?

CAPE 3 re-entered on 21 Feb 2024, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built CAPE 3?

CAPE 3 was operated by ULLAF and built by ULLAF (US).

Launched together

ALL-STAR/PolarCubeRe-entered 2023Fox-1ERe-entered 2024TES-7Re-entered 2022Prometheus 2-11Re-entered 2023MiTEE 1Re-entered 2023Cu-PACERe-entered 2024PICS 1Re-entered 2024PICS 2Re-entered 2024
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.