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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

Dove 249a

Re-entered 25 Aug 2024

Dove 249a (NORAD 51037, COSPAR 2022-002BF) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 25 Aug 2024, launched on 13 Jan 2022 on the Transporter-3 mission. It was operated by Planet Labs as part of the Flock-4 programme. The spacecraft was built by PLAN on the Cubesat 3U bus, with a mass of 5.7 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.

2022
launched
2024
re-entered
2
years on orbit
5.7
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched13 Jan 2022 · on the Transporter-3 mission
Operational5 Jul 2024 · entered service
Retired5 Jul 2024 · end of operational service
Re-entered25 Aug 2024 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID51037
COSPAR2022-002BF
TypeSatellite
OperatorPlanet Labs
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerPLAN
BusCubesat 3U
Mass5.7 kg
ProgrammeFlock-4
CategoryIMG
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude520 × 535 km
Inclination97.5°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Dove 249a?

Dove 249a re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 25 Aug 2024, ending a mission that began with its launch in 2022. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did Dove 249a re-enter the atmosphere?

Dove 249a re-entered on 25 Aug 2024, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Dove 249a?

Dove 249a was operated by Planet Labs and built by PLAN (US).

Launched together

FossaSat-2E2Re-entered 2023ICEYE-X16Re-entered 2024Dove 2481Re-entered 2024Dove 2492Re-entered 2024Dove 247fRe-entered 2024Dove 2474Re-entered 2024Tevel-1Re-entered 2024SATLLA-2BRe-entered 2023
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.