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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

SpaceBEE NZ-8

Re-entered 19 Sep 2023

SpaceBEE NZ-8 (NORAD 48891, COSPAR 2021-059N) was a NZ satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 19 Sep 2023, launched on 30 Jun 2021 on the Transporter-2 mission. It was operated by SWARNZ 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

Launched30 Jun 2021 · on the Transporter-2 mission
Operational1 Sep 2023 · entered service
Retired1 Sep 2023 · end of operational service
Re-entered19 Sep 2023 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID48891
COSPAR2021-059N
TypeSatellite
OperatorSWARNZ
Country / StateNZ
ManufacturerSWARM
BusCubesat 0.25U
Mass0.284 kg
ProgrammeSwarm
CategoryCOM
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude512 × 536 km
Inclination97.5°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to SpaceBEE NZ-8?

SpaceBEE NZ-8 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 19 Sep 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 NZ-8 re-enter the atmosphere?

SpaceBEE NZ-8 re-entered on 19 Sep 2023, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built SpaceBEE NZ-8?

SpaceBEE NZ-8 was operated by SWARNZ and built by SWARM (NZ).

Launched together

Starlink TSP2-01Re-entered 2024LINCS BRe-entered 2025SpaceBEE 111Re-entered 2024Nusat-19Re-entered 2024Umbra-SAR 2001Re-entered 2024Mandrake 2ANORAD 48907Mandrake 2BNORAD 48908PACE-1NORAD 48909
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.