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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

Dove 245a

Re-entered 1 Aug 2023

Dove 245a (NORAD 47479, COSPAR 2021-006BU) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 1 Aug 2023, launched on 24 Jan 2021 on the Transporter-1 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.

2021
launched
2023
re-entered
2
years on orbit
5.7
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched24 Jan 2021 · on the Transporter-1 mission
Operational30 May 2023 · entered service
Retired30 May 2023 · end of operational service
Re-entered1 Aug 2023 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID47479
COSPAR2021-006BU
TypeSatellite
OperatorPlanet Labs
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerPLAN
BusCubesat 3U
Mass5.7 kg
ProgrammeFlock-4
CategoryIMG
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude527 × 535 km
Inclination97.5°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Dove 245a?

Dove 245a re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 1 Aug 2023, 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 Dove 245a re-enter the atmosphere?

Dove 245a re-entered on 1 Aug 2023, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Dove 245a?

Dove 245a was operated by Planet Labs and built by PLAN (US).

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.