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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

Sapling-2

Re-entered 18 Sep 2024

Sapling-2 (NORAD 56213, COSPAR 2023-054AM) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 18 Sep 2024, launched on 15 Apr 2023 on the Transporter-7 mission. It was operated by STANSI as part of the Stanford programme. The spacecraft was built by STANSI on the Cubesat 1U 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.

2023
launched
2024
re-entered
1
year on orbit
1
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched15 Apr 2023 · on the Transporter-7 mission
Operational1 Aug 2024 · entered service
Retired1 Aug 2024 · end of operational service
Re-entered18 Sep 2024 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID56213
COSPAR2023-054AM
TypeSatellite
OperatorSTANSI
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerSTANSI
BusCubesat 1U
Mass1 kg
ProgrammeStanford
CategoryTECH
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude487 × 506 km
Inclination97.4°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Sapling-2?

Sapling-2 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 18 Sep 2024, ending a mission that began with its launch in 2023. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did Sapling-2 re-enter the atmosphere?

Sapling-2 re-entered on 18 Sep 2024, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built Sapling-2?

Sapling-2 was operated by STANSI and built by STANSI (US).

Launched together

IMECENORAD 56178NuSat-38NORAD 56202NuSat-37NORAD 56203GHGSAT-C6NORAD 56204FACSAT-2Re-entered 2025Lemur-2Re-entered 2024Pleiades Yearling 2.0Re-entered 2024Taifa-1Re-entered 2025
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.