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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

SA Marsa-3

Re-entered 29 May 1972

SA Marsa-3 (NORAD 5667, COSPAR 1971-049E) was a SU satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 29 May 1972, launched on 28 May 1971 on the 4M No. 172 mission. It is catalogued as SA. It was operated by IKI / Lavochkin as part of the 3M SA programme. The spacecraft was built by NPOL on the Mars SA bus, with a mass of 645 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.

1971
launched
1972
re-entered
1
year on orbit
645
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched28 May 1971 · on the 4M No. 172 mission
Operational2 Dec 1971 · entered service
Retired2 Dec 1971 · end of operational service
Re-entered29 May 1972 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID5667
COSPAR1971-049E
TypeSatellite
OperatorIKI / Lavochkin
Country / StateSU
ManufacturerNPOL
BusMars SA
Mass645 kg
Programme3M SA
CategoryPLAN/RV
OrbitHEO (EEO)
Inclination51.5°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to SA Marsa-3?

SA Marsa-3 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 29 May 1972, ending a mission that began with its launch in 1971. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did SA Marsa-3 re-enter the atmosphere?

SA Marsa-3 re-entered on 29 May 1972, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built SA Marsa-3?

SA Marsa-3 was operated by IKI / Lavochkin and built by NPOL (SU).

Launched together

4M No. 172Re-entered 1971
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-20.