SO-M No. 501

Re-entered 14 Apr 1972

SO-M No. 501 (NORAD 5941, COSPAR 1972-029A) was a SU satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 14 Apr 1972, launched on 14 Apr 1972 on the SO No. 501 mission. It was operated by IKI / BABTS as part of the SO-M programme. The spacecraft was built by NPOL on the SO-M bus, with a mass of 845 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.

1972

launched

1972

re-entered

years on orbit

845

kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched14 Apr 1972 · on the SO No. 501 mission

Operational15 Sep 1972 · entered service

Retired15 Sep 1972 · end of operational service

Re-entered14 Apr 1972 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID5941

COSPAR1972-029A

TypeSatellite

OperatorIKI / BABTS

Country / StateSU

ManufacturerNPOL

BusSO-M

Mass845 kg

ProgrammeSO-M

CategorySCI/AST

OrbitLEO (DSO)

Altitude468 × 200,002 km

Inclination64.9°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to SO-M No. 501?

SO-M No. 501 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 14 Apr 1972, ending a mission that began with its launch in 1972. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did SO-M No. 501 re-enter the atmosphere?

SO-M No. 501 re-entered on 14 Apr 1972, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built SO-M No. 501?

SO-M No. 501 was operated by IKI / BABTS and built by NPOL (SU).

Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.

Browse the live satellite directory → Re-entered satellites archive → Launch record: SO No. 501 → What is space debris? →