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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

SURCAL 2

Re-entered 18 Jan 1966

SURCAL 2 (NORAD 508, COSPAR 1962 B TAU 4) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 18 Jan 1966, launched on 13 Dec 1962. It was operated by NRL as part of the SURCAL programme. The spacecraft was built by NRL on the Surcal 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.

1962
launched
1966
re-entered
4
years on orbit
4
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched13 Dec 1962
Operational1 Dec 1965 · entered service
Retired1 Dec 1965 · end of operational service
Re-entered18 Jan 1966 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID508
COSPAR1962 B TAU 4
TypeSatellite
OperatorNRL
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerNRL
BusSurcal
Mass4 kg
ProgrammeSURCAL
CategoryCAL
OrbitLEO (LEO/I)
Altitude225 × 2,734 km
Inclination70.3°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to SURCAL 2?

SURCAL 2 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 18 Jan 1966, 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 SURCAL 2 re-enter the atmosphere?

SURCAL 2 re-entered on 18 Jan 1966, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built SURCAL 2?

SURCAL 2 was operated by NRL and built by NRL (US).

Launched together

POPPY 1 AlfaRe-entered 1967Injun 3Re-entered 1968Calsphere 1Re-entered 1963POPPY 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.
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