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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

Whitney 4

Re-entered 30 Mar 2024

Whitney 4 (NORAD 48605, COSPAR 2021-041BE) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 30 Mar 2024, launched on 15 May 2021 on the Starlink V1.0-L26 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
2024
re-entered
3
years on orbit
112
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched15 May 2021 · on the Starlink V1.0-L26 mission
Operational1 Mar 2023 · entered service
Retired1 Mar 2023 · end of operational service
Re-entered30 Mar 2024 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID48605
COSPAR2021-041BE
TypeSatellite
OperatorCAPSP
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerCAPSP
BusSequoia
Mass112 kg (90 kg dry)
ProgrammeCapella
CategoryIMG-R
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude566 × 587 km
Inclination53.0°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Whitney 4?

Whitney 4 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 30 Mar 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 Whitney 4 re-enter the atmosphere?

Whitney 4 re-entered on 30 Mar 2024, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Whitney 4?

Whitney 4 was operated by CAPSP and built by CAPSP (US).

Launched together

Starlink V1.0-L26-01NORAD 48553Starlink V1.0-L26-25NORAD 48577Starlink V1.0-L26-26NORAD 48578Starlink V1.0-L26-27Re-entered 2024Starlink V1.0-L26-28NORAD 48580Starlink V1.0-L26-29NORAD 48581Starlink V1.0-L26-30NORAD 48582Starlink V1.0-L26-31NORAD 48583
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.