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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

ARGON 1

Re-entered 28 Jul 1962

ARGON 1 (NORAD 83, COSPAR 1961 EPS 1) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 28 Jul 1962, launched on 17 Feb 1961. It was operated by AFBMD / ACE as part of the CORONA ARGON programme. The spacecraft was built by LMSD on the CORONA ARGON bus, with a mass of 108 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.

1961
launched
1962
re-entered
1
year on orbit
108
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched17 Feb 1961
Operational21 Feb 1961 · entered service
Retired21 Feb 1961 · end of operational service
Re-entered28 Jul 1962 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID83
COSPAR1961 EPS 1
TypeSatellite
OperatorAFBMD / ACE
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerLMSD
BusCORONA ARGON
Mass108 kg
ProgrammeCORONA ARGON
CategoryIMG
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude283 × 770 km
Inclination80.9°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to ARGON 1?

ARGON 1 re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 28 Jul 1962, ending a mission that began with its launch in 1961. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did ARGON 1 re-enter the atmosphere?

ARGON 1 re-entered on 28 Jul 1962, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built ARGON 1?

ARGON 1 was operated by AFBMD / ACE and built by LMSD (US).

Launched together

SRVRe-entered 1961
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.