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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

CAPSat

Re-entered 18 Sep 2022

CAPSat (NORAD 49276, COSPAR 1998-067SV) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 18 Sep 2022, launched on 29 Aug 2021 on the 77KM No. 17501 mission. It was operated by UIUC as part of the UIUC programme. The spacecraft was built by UIUC 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
2022
re-entered
1
year on orbit
4
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched29 Aug 2021 · on the 77KM No. 17501 mission
Operational1 Jan 2022 · entered service
Retired1 Jan 2022 · end of operational service
Re-entered18 Sep 2022 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID49276
COSPAR1998-067SV
TypeSatellite
OperatorUIUC
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerUIUC
BusCubesat 3U
Mass4 kg
ProgrammeUIUC
CategoryTECH
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude419 × 423 km
Inclination51.6°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to CAPSat?

CAPSat re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 18 Sep 2022, 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 CAPSat re-enter the atmosphere?

CAPSat re-entered on 18 Sep 2022, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built CAPSat?

CAPSat was operated by UIUC and built by UIUC (US).

Launched together

Binar-1Re-entered 2022Maya-3Re-entered 2022Maya-4Re-entered 2022CUAVA-1Re-entered 2022PR-CuNaR2Re-entered 2022SPACE HAUCRe-entered 2022Dragon C208.2Re-entered 2021
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.