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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

IRIS-C

Re-entered 18 Oct 2024

IRIS-C (NORAD 56221, COSPAR 2023-054AV) was a TW satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 18 Oct 2024, launched on 15 Apr 2023 on the Transporter-7 mission. It was operated by NCKU as part of the NCKU programme. The spacecraft was built by NCKU on the Cubesat 3U 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.

2023
launched
2024
re-entered
1
year on orbit
3
kg mass

Lifecycle

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

Specifications

NORAD ID56221
COSPAR2023-054AV
TypeSatellite
OperatorNCKU
Country / StateTW
ManufacturerNCKU
BusCubesat 3U
Mass3 kg
ProgrammeNCKU
CategoryCOM
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude488 × 509 km
Inclination97.4°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to IRIS-C?

IRIS-C re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 18 Oct 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 IRIS-C re-enter the atmosphere?

IRIS-C re-entered on 18 Oct 2024, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built IRIS-C?

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

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.