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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

SpaceBEE 72

Re-entered 9 May 2023

SpaceBEE 72 (NORAD 48634, COSPAR 2021-006FA) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 9 May 2023, launched on 24 Jan 2021 on the Transporter-1 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

Launched24 Jan 2021 · on the Transporter-1 mission
Operational1 Apr 2023 · entered service
Retired1 Apr 2023 · end of operational service
Re-entered9 May 2023 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID48634
COSPAR2021-006FA
TypeSatellite
OperatorSWARM
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerSWARM
BusCubesat 0.25U
Mass0.284 kg
ProgrammeSwarm
CategoryCOM
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude511 × 534 km
Inclination97.3°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to SpaceBEE 72?

SpaceBEE 72 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 9 May 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 72 re-enter the atmosphere?

SpaceBEE 72 re-entered on 9 May 2023, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built SpaceBEE 72?

SpaceBEE 72 was operated by SWARM and built by SWARM (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.