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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

Lunar Flashlight

Re-entered 11 Dec 2022

Lunar Flashlight (NORAD 54697, COSPAR 2022-168B) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 11 Dec 2022, launched on 11 Dec 2022 on the Hakuto-R M1 mission. It was operated by JPL as part of the JPL Deep Cube programme. The spacecraft was built by JPL on the Cubesat 6U bus, with a mass of 14 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
2022
re-entered
0
years on orbit
14
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched11 Dec 2022 · on the Hakuto-R M1 mission
Operational12 May 2023 · entered service
Retired12 May 2023 · end of operational service
Re-entered11 Dec 2022 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID54697
COSPAR2022-168B
TypeSatellite
OperatorJPL
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerJPL
BusCubesat 6U
Mass14 kg
ProgrammeJPL Deep Cube
CategoryPLAN
OrbitBEO (CLO)
Altitude293 × 1,134,167 km
Inclination29.1°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Lunar Flashlight?

Lunar Flashlight re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 11 Dec 2022, 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 Lunar Flashlight re-enter the atmosphere?

Lunar Flashlight re-entered on 11 Dec 2022, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Lunar Flashlight?

Lunar Flashlight was operated by JPL and built by JPL (US).

Launched together

Hakuto-R Mission 1Re-entered 2022
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.