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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

IT-SPINS

Re-entered 28 Feb 2024

IT-SPINS (NORAD 49017, COSPAR 2021-013G) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 28 Feb 2024, launched on 20 Feb 2021 on the Cygnus NG-15 mission. It was operated by MSU as part of the MSU programme. The spacecraft was built by MSU on the Cubesat 3U bus, with a mass of 4 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
2024
re-entered
3
years on orbit
4
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched20 Feb 2021 · on the Cygnus NG-15 mission
Operational1 Mar 2024 · entered service
Retired1 Mar 2024 · end of operational service
Re-entered28 Feb 2024 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID49017
COSPAR2021-013G
TypeSatellite
OperatorMSU
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerMSU
BusCubesat 3U
Mass4 kg
ProgrammeMSU
CategorySCI
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude489 × 503 km
Inclination51.6°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to IT-SPINS?

IT-SPINS re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 28 Feb 2024, 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 IT-SPINS re-enter the atmosphere?

IT-SPINS re-entered on 28 Feb 2024, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built IT-SPINS?

IT-SPINS was operated by MSU and built by MSU (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.