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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

Whitney 2

Re-entered 8 Apr 2023

Whitney 2 (NORAD 47481, COSPAR 2021-006BW) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 8 Apr 2023, launched on 24 Jan 2021 on the Transporter-1 mission. It was operated by CAPSP as part of the Capella programme. The spacecraft was built by CAPSP on the Sequoia bus, with a mass of 112 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
112
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched24 Jan 2021 · on the Transporter-1 mission
Operational1 Mar 2023 · entered service
Retired1 Mar 2023 · end of operational service
Re-entered8 Apr 2023 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID47481
COSPAR2021-006BW
TypeSatellite
OperatorCAPSP
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerCAPSP
BusSequoia
Mass112 kg (90 kg dry)
ProgrammeCapella
CategoryIMG-R
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude514 × 534 km
Inclination97.5°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Whitney 2?

Whitney 2 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 8 Apr 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 Whitney 2 re-enter the atmosphere?

Whitney 2 re-entered on 8 Apr 2023, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Whitney 2?

Whitney 2 was operated by CAPSP and built by CAPSP (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.