Satellite Re-entries

Predicted decays

Aerospace Corporation provides predictions of decays of satellites and substantial hardware within 5 days of predicted decay. A graphic of the decay plot is normally provided.

Memorable Decays

Here are some interesting past decays:

  • On 2004 June 27 UTC, SeeSat-L subscribers in the state of Pennsylvania and the province of Ontario, observed the decay of 1992-088E / 22273, a piece of operational debris from a Russian satellite launch, called a "BOZ ullage motor". Dan Deaks posted a heads-up several hours in advance. SeeSat-L received observatioin reports from: Scott Dalton, Brian Cook, Terry Pundiak, Bill Mitchell (his second decay in as many months!), John Holtz, and Floyd Weaver.

  • In early May 2004, the decay of Raduga 33 became the hot topic on SeeSat-L. Mike McCants alerted observers about the satellite's imminent decay. Over the next few days, SeeSat-L subscribers posted updated orbital elements as soon as they became available, and discussed the potential to observe this decay. Thanks to the planning and some good luck, the spectacular decay was observed by Ted Molczan, Jim Prather and Bill Mitchell.

  • Mark Hanning-Lee reported to SeeSat-L, his possible sighting of a decay on November 23, 2003 UTC, from Joshua Tree, California. Alan Pickup and Harro Zimmer provided confirmation, and identified the object as a small piece of debris of the Cosmos 2399 satellite.

  • The half-tonne HETE-I/SAC-B/Pegasus (NORAD 24645) decayed on April 7, 2002 over China. Here are photos of SAC-B and third stage. Here are pictures of HETE.

  • EUVE (NORAD 21987), the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer was launched by NASA June 7, 1992 into a 500 km, 28 degree inclined orbit by a Delta II. This 3 tonne (3275 kg), 4.5 x 3 meter spacecraft decayed over central Egypt on January 31, 2002. It was placed out-of-service on February 2, 2001. It was originally designed to be serviced by the shuttle.

  • The decay on December 3, 2001 of JERS-1, a 1.4 ton Japanese Earth Resources Satellite, was predicted by NASDA and on SeeSat-L; see the December 2001 archives .

  • Mir Space Station, the core vehicle was launched in February 1986 and decayed on March 23, 2001 in a planned reentry.

  • Starshine-1, launched from STS-96 on June 5, 1999 decayed on Feb 18, 2000. Interest in the decay of the Starshine satellite was generated by both Alan Pickup and Harro Zimmer. They provided independent decay prediction reports on Starshine's demise.

  • Mars 96, launched on Nov 16, 1996 at 20:48 UTC, was never acknowledged to have been actually tracked by USSTRATCOM. The DM-2 fourth stage of the Proton rocket failed to fire properly on its second burn in Low Earth Orbit and probe quickly decayed over, near or close to the east coast of Ecuador early on Nov 17 on orbit 3 near perigee. Many stories followed after the launch and speculation was high as to where the Russian plutonium fueled Mars probe finally re-entered.

  • In August 1996, Alan Pickup and Mike McCants alerted SeeSat-L subscribers to the imminent decay of the upper stage of the rocket that launched Raduga 33. On August 20, 1996 UTC, Stephen Bolton observed it glowing brilliantly, as it passed through perigee, the day before it re-entered. Ted Molczan explained the phenomenon.

  • TSS-1R (NORAD 23805), the errant tethered satellite deployed during the February 1996 STS-75 shuttle mission, re-entered over the Atlantic around 2300 UTC on March 19, 1996.

  • FSW-1 (NORAD 22780), a Chinese imaging satellite, re-entered over the South Atlantic Ocean on 12 March 1996 at around 0405 UTC (according to US Space Command). Russian defense officials disagree though, claiming the vehicle re-entered over the northeast Pacific.

  • On November 5, 1990, the decay of a Proton rocket's 3rd stage, 1990-094C, was observed from several European countries. Here is a report which shows that this decay explains a UFO report by Tornado fighter pilots.

  • COSMOS 1645, an early Foton satellite had been launched on April 16, 1985, and a piece was later recovered in Australia.

    • Return to Satellite Re-entry page.

    Contact: webmaster@satobs.org