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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

QUILL

Re-entered 11 Jan 1965

QUILL (NORAD 964, COSPAR 1964-087A) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 11 Jan 1965, launched on 21 Dec 1964 on the QUILL mission. It was operated by NRO / SAFSP as part of the QUILL programme. The spacecraft was built by LMSC/GOYRP on the FTV 2355 bus, with a mass of 200 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.

1964
launched
1965
re-entered
1
year on orbit
200
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched21 Dec 1964 · on the QUILL mission
Operational26 Dec 1964 · entered service
Retired26 Dec 1964 · end of operational service
Re-entered11 Jan 1965 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID964
COSPAR1964-087A
TypeSatellite
OperatorNRO / SAFSP
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerLMSC/GOYRP
BusFTV 2355
Mass200 kg
ProgrammeQUILL
CategoryIMG-R
OrbitLEO (LLEO/I)
Altitude208 × 222 km
Inclination70.1°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to QUILL?

QUILL re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 11 Jan 1965, ending a mission that began with its launch in 1964. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did QUILL re-enter the atmosphere?

QUILL re-entered on 11 Jan 1965, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built QUILL?

QUILL was operated by NRO / SAFSP and built by LMSC/GOYRP (US).

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