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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

Calsphere 1

Re-entered 1 Jul 1963

Calsphere 1 (NORAD 507, COSPAR 1962 B TAU 3) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 1 Jul 1963, launched on 13 Dec 1962. It was operated by NRL as part of the NRL Cal programme. The spacecraft was built by NRL on the NRL 6" Calsphere bus, with a mass of 1 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.

1962
launched
1963
re-entered
1
year on orbit
1
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched13 Dec 1962
Operational13 Dec 1962 · entered service
Retired13 Dec 1962 · end of operational service
Re-entered1 Jul 1963 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID507
COSPAR1962 B TAU 3
TypeSatellite
OperatorNRL
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerNRL
BusNRL 6" Calsphere
Mass1 kg
ProgrammeNRL Cal
CategoryCAL
OrbitLEO (LEO/I)
Altitude231 × 2,748 km
Inclination70.3°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Calsphere 1?

Calsphere 1 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 1 Jul 1963, ending a mission that began with its launch in 1962. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did Calsphere 1 re-enter the atmosphere?

Calsphere 1 re-entered on 1 Jul 1963, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Calsphere 1?

Calsphere 1 was operated by NRL and built by NRL (US).

Launched together

POPPY 1 AlfaRe-entered 1967Injun 3Re-entered 1968SURCAL 2Re-entered 1966POPPY 1 BravoRe-entered 1967AFTRACK 27/Mission 7202Re-entered 1968
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.