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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

Kepler-12

Re-entered 10 Oct 2024

Kepler-12 (NORAD 47446, COSPAR 2021-006AK) was a CA satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 10 Oct 2024, launched on 24 Jan 2021 on the Transporter-1 mission. It was operated by KEPLER as part of the Kepler programme. The spacecraft was built by KEPLER/UTIAS on the Cubesat 6U bus, with a mass of 15 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
15
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched24 Jan 2021 · on the Transporter-1 mission
Operational1 Sep 2024 · entered service
Retired1 Sep 2024 · end of operational service
Re-entered10 Oct 2024 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID47446
COSPAR2021-006AK
TypeSatellite
OperatorKEPLER
Country / StateCA
ManufacturerKEPLER/UTIAS
BusCubesat 6U
Mass15 kg
ProgrammeKepler
CategoryCOM
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude526 × 536 km
Inclination97.5°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Kepler-12?

Kepler-12 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 10 Oct 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 Kepler-12 re-enter the atmosphere?

Kepler-12 re-entered on 10 Oct 2024, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Kepler-12?

Kepler-12 was operated by KEPLER and built by KEPLER/UTIAS (CA).

Launched together

Starlink TSP1-01Re-entered 2021UVSQ-SATRe-entered 2024YUSAT-1Re-entered 2024CharlieRe-entered 2024ASELSATRe-entered 2024SpaceBEE 63Re-entered 2024SpaceBEE 50Re-entered 2023SpaceBEE 51Re-entered 2023
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.