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Kuiper KA03-16

Re-entered 26 Jul 2026

Kuiper KA03-16 (NORAD 65777, COSPAR 2025-217R) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 26 Jul 2026, launched on 25 Sep 2025 on the KA-03 mission. It was operated by Amazon Kuiper as part of the Kuiper programme. The spacecraft was built by KUIP on the Kuiper bus, with a mass of 490 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.

2025
launched
2026
re-entered
1
year on orbit
490
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched25 Sep 2025 · on the KA-03 mission
Operational25 Feb 2026 · entered service
Retired18 Apr 2026 · end of operational service
Re-entered26 Jul 2026 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID65777
COSPAR2025-217R
TypeSatellite
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerKUIP
BusKuiper
Mass490 kg
ProgrammeKuiper
CategoryCOM
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude456 × 469 km
Inclination51.9°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Kuiper KA03-16?

Kuiper KA03-16 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 26 Jul 2026, ending a mission that began with its launch in 2025. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did Kuiper KA03-16 re-enter the atmosphere?

Kuiper KA03-16 re-entered on 26 Jul 2026, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

How long was Kuiper KA03-16 operational?

Kuiper KA03-16 was operational for roughly 2 months, from 25 Feb 2026 to 18 Apr 2026.

Who operated and built Kuiper KA03-16?

Kuiper KA03-16 was operated by Amazon Kuiper and built by KUIP (US).

Launched together

Kuiper KA03-01NORAD 65762Kuiper KA03-25NORAD 65786Kuiper KA03-26NORAD 65787Kuiper KA03-27NORAD 65788Kuiper KA03-02NORAD 65763Kuiper KA03-03NORAD 65764Kuiper KA03-04NORAD 65765Kuiper KA03-05NORAD 65766
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-16.