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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

Whitney 3

Re-entered 23 Feb 2023

Whitney 3 (NORAD 48913, COSPAR 2021-059AL) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 23 Feb 2023, launched on 30 Jun 2021 on the Transporter-2 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

Launched30 Jun 2021 · on the Transporter-2 mission
Operational1 Feb 2023 · entered service
Retired1 Feb 2023 · end of operational service
Re-entered23 Feb 2023 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID48913
COSPAR2021-059AL
TypeSatellite
OperatorCAPSP
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerCAPSP
BusSequoia
Mass112 kg (90 kg dry)
ProgrammeCapella
CategoryIMG-R
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude521 × 536 km
Inclination97.5°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Whitney 3?

Whitney 3 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 23 Feb 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 3 re-enter the atmosphere?

Whitney 3 re-entered on 23 Feb 2023, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Whitney 3?

Whitney 3 was operated by CAPSP and built by CAPSP (US).

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.