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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

Arthur

Re-entered 31 Dec 2025

Arthur (NORAD 48953, COSPAR 2021-059CC) was a B satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 31 Dec 2025, launched on 30 Jun 2021 on the Transporter-2 mission. It was operated by ASPLB as part of the Aerospacelab programme. The spacecraft was built by ASPLB on the Cubesat 12U bus, with a mass of 20 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
2025
re-entered
4
years on orbit
20
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched30 Jun 2021 · on the Transporter-2 mission
Operational1 Dec 2025 · entered service
Retired1 Dec 2025 · end of operational service
Re-entered31 Dec 2025 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID48953
COSPAR2021-059CC
TypeSatellite
OperatorASPLB
Country / StateB
ManufacturerASPLB
BusCubesat 12U
Mass20 kg
ProgrammeAerospacelab
CategoryTECH
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude512 × 535 km
Inclination97.5°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Arthur?

Arthur re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 31 Dec 2025, 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 Arthur re-enter the atmosphere?

Arthur re-entered on 31 Dec 2025, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Arthur?

Arthur was operated by ASPLB and built by ASPLB (B).

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.