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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

SpaceBEE 85

Re-entered 4 Jan 2023

SpaceBEE 85 (NORAD 47705, COSPAR 2021-015G) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 4 Jan 2023, launched on 28 Feb 2021 on the PSLV Rideshare 18 mission. It was operated by SWARM as part of the Swarm programme. The spacecraft was built by SWARM on the Cubesat 0.25U bus, with a mass of 0.284 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
0.284
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched28 Feb 2021 · on the PSLV Rideshare 18 mission
Operational1 Dec 2022 · entered service
Retired1 Dec 2022 · end of operational service
Re-entered4 Jan 2023 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID47705
COSPAR2021-015G
TypeSatellite
OperatorSWARM
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerSWARM
BusCubesat 0.25U
Mass0.284 kg
ProgrammeSwarm
CategoryCOM
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude496 × 508 km
Inclination97.5°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to SpaceBEE 85?

SpaceBEE 85 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 4 Jan 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 SpaceBEE 85 re-enter the atmosphere?

SpaceBEE 85 re-entered on 4 Jan 2023, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built SpaceBEE 85?

SpaceBEE 85 was operated by SWARM and built by SWARM (US).

Launched together

Amazonia-1NORAD 47699SAI-1 NanoConnect-2Re-entered 2023Sindhu NetraRe-entered 2023SpaceBEE 87Re-entered 2023SpaceBEE 86Re-entered 2023SpaceBEE 84Re-entered 2023SpaceBEE 83Re-entered 2022SpaceBEE 82Re-entered 2022
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.