HomeLibraryRe-entered SatellitesORCA-6
🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

ORCA-6

Re-entered 31 Jan 2023

ORCA-6 (NORAD 49015, COSPAR 2021-013E) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 31 Jan 2023, launched on 20 Feb 2021 on the Cygnus NG-15 mission. It was operated by DARPA2 as part of the ORCA programme. The spacecraft was built by HYPGG? on the Cubesat 6U? bus, with a mass of 2 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
2
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched20 Feb 2021 · on the Cygnus NG-15 mission
Operational1 Jan 2023 · entered service
Retired1 Jan 2023 · end of operational service
Re-entered31 Jan 2023 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID49015
COSPAR2021-013E
TypeSatellite
OperatorDARPA2
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerHYPGG?
BusCubesat 6U?
Mass2 kg
ProgrammeORCA
CategoryCOM
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude492 × 501 km
Inclination51.6°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to ORCA-6?

ORCA-6 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 31 Jan 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 ORCA-6 re-enter the atmosphere?

ORCA-6 re-entered on 31 Jan 2023, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built ORCA-6?

ORCA-6 was operated by DARPA2 and built by HYPGG? (US).

Launched together

WARP-01Re-entered 2022RSP-01Re-entered 2022TAU-Sat-1Re-entered 2022BIRDS-4 TsuruRe-entered 2022STARS-EC End Mass 1Re-entered 2022BIRDS-4 Maya-2Re-entered 2022OPUSAT-IIRe-entered 2022BIRDS-4 GuaraniSatRe-entered 2022
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.