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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

POPPY 2 Charlie

Re-entered 27 Jul 1963

POPPY 2 Charlie (NORAD 598, COSPAR 1963-021E) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 27 Jul 1963, launched on 15 Jun 1963 on the SURCAL mission. It was operated by NRO / NRL as part of the POPPY programme. The spacecraft was built by NRL on the NRL 20" bus, with a mass of 29 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.

1963
launched
1963
re-entered
0
years on orbit
29
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched15 Jun 1963 · on the SURCAL mission
Operational27 Jul 1963 · entered service
Retired27 Jul 1963 · end of operational service
Re-entered27 Jul 1963 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID598
COSPAR1963-021E
TypeSatellite
OperatorNRO / NRL
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerNRL
BusNRL 20"
Mass29 kg
ProgrammePOPPY
CategorySIG
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude173 × 829 km
Inclination69.9°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to POPPY 2 Charlie?

POPPY 2 Charlie re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 27 Jul 1963, ending a mission that began with its launch in 1963. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did POPPY 2 Charlie re-enter the atmosphere?

POPPY 2 Charlie re-entered on 27 Jul 1963, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built POPPY 2 Charlie?

POPPY 2 Charlie was operated by NRO / NRL and built by NRL (US).

Launched together

AFTRACK 33/Mission 7216Re-entered 1963Lofti 2BRe-entered 1963POPPY 2 AlfaRe-entered 1963POPPY 2 BravoRe-entered 1963SURCALRe-entered 1963
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.