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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

IRIS-A

Re-entered 10 Jun 2025

IRIS-A (NORAD 51044, COSPAR 2022-002BN) was a TW satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 10 Jun 2025, launched on 13 Jan 2022 on the Transporter-3 mission. It was operated by NCKU as part of the NCKU programme. The spacecraft was built by NCKU on the Cubesat 2U bus, with a mass of 3 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
2025
re-entered
3
years on orbit
3
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched13 Jan 2022 · on the Transporter-3 mission
Operational1 May 2025 · entered service
Retired1 May 2025 · end of operational service
Re-entered10 Jun 2025 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID51044
COSPAR2022-002BN
TypeSatellite
OperatorNCKU
Country / StateTW
ManufacturerNCKU
BusCubesat 2U
Mass3 kg
ProgrammeNCKU
CategoryCOM
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude523 × 535 km
Inclination97.5°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to IRIS-A?

IRIS-A re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 10 Jun 2025, 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 IRIS-A re-enter the atmosphere?

IRIS-A re-entered on 10 Jun 2025, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built IRIS-A?

IRIS-A was operated by NCKU and built by NCKU (TW).

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.