/nAnticipated and Recent Re-entries - eventually air drag, gravity or retro-fire mean that a spacecraft or satellite is no longer able to stay in orbit. It re-enters the atmosphere to be destroyed or make a safe landing.
Orbital Focus - International Spaceflight Facts and Figures
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Launches and Orbital Operations


Tyneside, UK
2024 Apr 20
Saturday, Day 111

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Feeling the Heat!

Air drag and, sometimes, gravitational effects cause satellites to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. Occasionally, re-entry is caused by a deliberate decision of a satellite owner to fire a retro-rocket and bring some part of a space vehicle back to Earth.

Most re-entries result in the vehicle being destroyed by frictional heating as it passes through the Earth's atmosphere. Some fragments may get through and hit the Earth's surface - hence the system of TIP messages to warn of the event. Only a space vehicle fitted with a heat shield will get through the atmosphere for a landing.

NOTE - Names used here are as used by Space-Track rather than the more-descriptive ones in the Orbital Focus tables.


Anticipated Re-entries

Information comes from Space-Track. Most entries are from the 60-day decay prediction messages. If the re-entry date has already passed then you might find the object is also in the actual re-entry list further down the page.

Below are re-entries expected over the next few weeks. The table includes only natural re-entries of satellites and rocket bodies. It excludes debris items and planned events like a Soyuz, Shenzhou or Dragon spacecraft returning from space station duties.

Cat No Designation Name
(SpaceTrack)
Predicted
Date UTC
Prediction
Issued UTC
45698    2020-035ATSTARLINK-13702024 Apr 192024 Apr 11
46158    2020-057ATSTARLINK-15892024 Apr 192024 Mar 28
47741    2021-017VSTARLINK-21542024 Apr 192024 Apr 11
52909    2022-068CYAOGAN-35 02C2024 Apr 192024 Apr 16
45199    2020-012XSTARLINK-11972024 Apr 202024 Apr 11
52407    2022-047PSPACEBEE-1492024 Apr 202024 Apr 11
52767    2022-057AMCNCE42024 Apr 202024 Apr 11
45076    2020-006AJSTARLINK-11802024 Apr 212024 Apr 11
45214    2020-012ANSTARLINK-12332024 Apr 212024 Apr 11
47311    2021-002CAO-1092024 Apr 212024 Apr 18
48591    2021-041AQSTARLINK-22482024 Apr 212024 Apr 11
44946    2020-001AJSTARLINK-11102024 Apr 222024 Apr 4
45371    2020-019MSTARLINK-12872024 Apr 222024 Apr 11
46166    2020-057BBSTARLINK-16152024 Apr 222024 Apr 11
48027    2021-024BCSTARLINK-23002024 Apr 222024 Apr 4
45691    2020-035ALSTARLINK-14152024 Apr 232024 Apr 18
46282    2020-061LFLOCK 4V 92024 Apr 232024 Apr 11
54022    2022-126CCZ-11H R/B2024 Apr 232024 Apr 11
37378    2011-011BDELTA 4 R/B2024 Apr 242024 Apr 11
45050    2020-006GSTARLINK-11402024 Apr 242024 Apr 11
45059    2020-006RSTARLINK-11652024 Apr 242024 Apr 11
45372    2020-019NSTARLINK-12882024 Apr 242024 Apr 11
58254    2023-172BCZ-3B R/B2024 Apr 242024 Apr 4
45079    2020-006AMSTARLINK-11492024 Apr 252024 Apr 18
45166    2020-009BH-2A R/B2024 Apr 252024 Apr 11
45463    2020-021DCZ-2C R/B2024 Apr 252024 Apr 18
47475    2021-006BQFLOCK 4S 312024 Apr 252024 Apr 11
46067    2020-055ASSTARLINK-15292024 Apr 262024 Apr 11
47501    2021-006CSKEPLER-10 (BABY YODA)2024 Apr 262024 Apr 18
47570    2021-009YSTARLINK-19692024 Apr 262024 Apr 11
47738    2021-017SSTARLINK-21492024 Apr 262024 Apr 4
51046    2022-002BQFLOCK 4X 192024 Apr 262024 Apr 11
56734    2023-069DCZ-2C R/B2024 Apr 262024 Apr 11
43224    2018-021BH-2A R/B2024 Apr 272024 Apr 18
47499    2021-006CQFLOCK 4S 402024 Apr 272024 Apr 11
47948    2021-022SLACUNASAT-2B2024 Apr 272024 Apr 18
52412    2022-047USPACEBEE-1462024 Apr 272024 Apr 11
45667    2020-035LSTARLINK-14502024 Apr 292024 Apr 18
47317    2021-002JOBJECT J2024 Apr 292024 Apr 11
47454    2021-006ATKEPLER-13 (LUCKY)2024 Apr 292024 Apr 18
48005    2021-024AESTARLINK-22542024 Apr 292024 Mar 28
56206    2023-054AELEMUR 2 ROMEO-N-LEO2024 Apr 292024 Apr 11
46072    2020-055AXSTARLINK-15392024 Apr 302024 Apr 18
47319    2021-002LEXOCUBE 22024 Apr 302024 Apr 18
42783    2017-036UDIAMOND RED2024 May 22024 Apr 11
44413    2019-038ADLEMUR 2 YNDRD2024 May 22024 Apr 11
45392    2020-019AJSTARLINK-12902024 May 22024 Apr 18
46722    2020-073BESTARLINK-18252024 May 22024 Mar 28
49731    2021-115HSTARLINK-32282024 May 22024 Apr 18
44404    2019-038UCARBONIX2024 May 32024 Apr 18
47599    2021-009BDSTARLINK-20042024 May 32024 Mar 28
45709    2020-035BESTARLINK-14212024 May 42024 Apr 18
46673    2020-073DSTARLINK-17172024 May 52024 Apr 18
46686    2020-073SSTARLINK-17832024 May 52024 Apr 18
47459    2021-006AYSPACEBEE-552024 May 52024 Apr 18
52394    2022-047ASPACEBEE-1432024 May 52024 Apr 11
52409    2022-047RSPACEBEE-1502024 May 52024 Apr 11
52401    2022-047HSPACEBEE-1422024 May 62024 Apr 11
52411    2022-047TSPACEBEE-1452024 May 62024 Apr 11
53131    2022-082DCZ-2C R/B2024 May 62024 Apr 11
57455    2023-106DCZ-2D R/B2024 May 62024 Apr 11
37852    2011-061CDICE 22024 May 82024 Apr 18
46787    2020-074BASTARLINK-18992024 May 82024 Mar 28
47999    2021-024YSTARLINK-22182024 May 82024 Apr 18
48011    2021-024ALSTARLINK-22722024 May 82024 Apr 18
52413    2022-047VSPACEBEE-1512024 May 82024 Apr 11
52769    2022-057APLEMUR 2 MIMI13072024 May 82024 Apr 11
44938    2020-001AASTARLINK-10822024 May 92024 Apr 18
45730    2020-038ASTARLINK-14612024 May 92024 Apr 18
47318    2021-002KOBJECT K2024 May 92024 Apr 11
52414    2022-047WSPACEBEE-1522024 May 92024 Apr 11
48906    2021-059ADUMBRA-20012024 May 102024 Apr 11
52410    2022-047SSPACEBEE-1442024 May 102024 Apr 11
48910    2021-059AHGNOMES-22024 May 112024 Apr 18
46049    2020-055YSTARLINK-15302024 May 122024 Apr 18
47744    2021-017YSTARLINK-21582024 May 122024 Apr 18
44875    2019-092CASAP-S2024 May 132024 Apr 11
45559    2020-025AESTARLINK-13442024 May 132024 Apr 18
47493    2021-006CJLEMUR 2 MANGO12024 May 132024 Apr 11
47751    2021-017AFSTARLINK-21682024 May 132024 Apr 11
51075    2022-002CVUSA 3202024 May 132024 Apr 18
52417    2022-047ZSPACEBEE-1542024 May 132024 Apr 11
43855    2018-104GCHOMPTT2024 May 142024 Apr 18
44924    2020-001LSTARLINK-11112024 May 152024 Apr 18
47538    2021-006DYLEMUR 2 NOOBNOOB2024 May 162024 Apr 11
52400    2022-047GSPACEBEE-1412024 May 162024 Apr 11
43856    2018-104HCP11 (ISX)2024 May 182024 Apr 18
52948    2022-074EGPX2 3U2024 May 182024 Apr 11
12159    1981-009DSL-6 R/B(2)2024 May 192024 Apr 4
43694    2018-088EPROXIMA I2024 May 192024 Apr 18
52416    2022-047YSPACEBEE-1552024 May 192024 Apr 11
47801    2021-018QSTARLINK-23822024 May 202024 Apr 18
52415    2022-047XSPACEBEE-1472024 May 202024 Apr 11


Recent TIP Messages

Publication of TIP messages is not a matter of routine and they are not issued for all re-entries. They are more up to date and more precise than entries in the table and take precedence over them.

Readers unfamiliar with how to interpret TIP messages are recommended to read the Note at the bottom of the page.

Sometimes there may be a delay between the final TIP message and the re-entry being formally logged in Space-Track's Catalogue so a Message here may relate to a re-entry that has not yet moved from the 'Anticipated' list to the 'Recent' list.

Orbital Focus shows the predicted impact point only when the Window is less than about one quarter orbit. Even then it represents as much as +/-9000 km.

Table created: 2024 Apr 20, 10:47 UTC

Cat No &
Designation
Name
(Space-Track)
Predicted
Date & Time UTC
Lat, Long & Heading
(10 km altitude)
TIP Message
Issued UTC
58149
2023-165B
SL-4 R/B2024 Apr 12 22:46
± 1 minutes
60°.1 south, 1°.5 west
southbound, ± 0.01 orbits
2024 Apr 12 23:57
54197
2022-141AS
STARLINK-52342024 Apr 15 03:04
± 2 minutes
38°.8 north, 27°.3 west
northbound, ± 0.02 orbits
2024 Apr 15 07:29
52909
2022-068C
YAOGAN-35 02C2024 Apr 19 10:16
± 960 minutes
2024 Apr 16 09:50
48027
2021-024BC
STARLINK-23002024 Apr 11 09:57
± 2 minutes
8°.4 south, 49°.1 west
southbound, ± 0.02 orbits
2024 Apr 13 20:30
47738
2021-017S
STARLINK-21492024 Apr 12 04:44
± 120 minutes
2024 Apr 13 20:14
41465
2016-026B
AIST 2D2024 Apr 15 05:03
± 1 minutes
56°.6 south, 126°.6 west
southbound, ± 0.01 orbits
2024 Apr 15 07:36


Recent Re-entries

This table is extracted from Space-Track's Catalogue and lists major re-entries that occurred in the last 30 days, whether natural or deliberate. The list is updated every few hours.


Cat No Designation Name (SpaceTrack) Date UTC
 
52909   2022-068CYAOGAN-35 02C2024 Apr 19
2379   1963-014ZWESTFORD NEEDLES2024 Apr 18
44842   2019-087EOBJECT E2024 Apr 18
52175   2022-033UBDSAT2024 Apr 18
52768   2022-057ANCNCE52024 Apr 18
43157   2018-008CKEPLER-0 (KIPP)2024 Apr 17
46313   2020-061ATFLOCK 4V 12024 Apr 17
48962   2021-059CMGHALIB2024 Apr 17
41465   2016-026BAIST 2D2024 Apr 15
54197   2022-141ASSTARLINK-52342024 Apr 15
46281   2020-061KPICASSO-BEL2024 Apr 13
47738   2021-017SSTARLINK-21492024 Apr 13
48027   2021-024BCSTARLINK-23002024 Apr 13
52408   2022-047QSPACEBEE-1532024 Apr 13
58149   2023-165BSL-4 R/B2024 Apr 13
42785   2017-036WDIAMOND GREEN2024 Apr 11
43842   2018-102MOBJECT M2024 Apr 11
44946   2020-001AJSTARLINK-11102024 Apr 11
46322   2020-061BCFLOCK 4V 32024 Apr 11
47485   2021-006CAQPS-SAR-2 IZANAMI2024 Apr 11
52777   2022-057AXVEERY-FS12024 Apr 11
53367   2022-095AOBJECT A2024 Apr 11
45251   2020-014CXJS E2024 Apr 10
40909   2015-049LXW-2E2024 Apr 9
40910   2015-049MXW-2F2024 Apr 9
44401   2019-038ROBJECT R2024 Apr 9
44415   2019-022ENARSSCUBE-22024 Apr 9
45605   2020-011DULTP2024 Apr 9
47429   2021-006SSPACEBEE-622024 Apr 9
48878   2021-058HGUNSMOKE-J 42024 Apr 9
56230   2023-084BPISTANBUL2024 Apr 9
52753   2022-057XUMBRA-032024 Apr 8
58587   2023-199BOBJECT B2024 Apr 7
4814   1970-113BSL-3 R/B2024 Apr 6
57862   2023-143ASOYUZ MS-242024 Apr 6
59091   2024-041TSTARLINK-313522024 Apr 6
15592   1985-020ACOSMOS 16332024 Apr 5
52160   2022-033DALFACRUX2024 Apr 5
56873   2022-162CSZ-15 MODULE2024 Apr 2
42781   2017-036SLEMUR 2 SAM-AMELIA2024 Apr 1
46089   2020-055BQGLOBAL-82024 Apr 1
46528   2020-061BEFLOCK 4V 152024 Mar 30
47965   2021-023AVEERY-RL12024 Mar 30
48893   2021-059QSPACEBEE-1062024 Mar 30
48895   2021-059SSPACEBEE-1082024 Mar 30
52020   2022-026NSPACEBEE-1272024 Mar 30
52279   2022-041USTARLINK-36862024 Mar 30
54248   2022-153CFALCON 9 R/B2024 Mar 30
59229   2024-048BCZ-2C R/B2024 Mar 30
48605   2021-041BECAPELLA-6 (WHITNEY)2024 Mar 29
43133   2018-004YOBJECT Y2024 Mar 28
43844   2018-102POBJECT P2024 Mar 28
44405   2019-038VLEMUR 2 DUSTINTHEWIND2024 Mar 28
44729   2019-074SSTARLINK-10242024 Mar 28
44840   2019-087COBJECT C2024 Mar 28
46298   2020-061ACLEMUR 2 ETHANOAKES2024 Mar 28
46597   2020-061BGFLOCK 4V 182024 Mar 28
46609   2020-061BHFLOCK 4V 192024 Mar 28
46816   2020-077DFLOCK 4EP 82024 Mar 28
46931   2020-085CCORVUS BC52024 Mar 28
47511   2021-006DCLEMUR 2 RUAIRI-EILIDH2024 Mar 28
48884   2021-059FSPACEBEE-1012024 Mar 28
48886   2021-059HSPACEBEE-1022024 Mar 28
51055   2022-002BZFLOCK 4X 332024 Mar 28
53374   2022-096EOBJECT E2024 Mar 28
46291   2020-061VFLOCK 4V 72024 Mar 27
46365   2020-062ASSTARLINK-15502024 Mar 27
47520   2021-006DLFLOCK 4S 292024 Mar 27
48109   2021-027TSTARLINK-24452024 Mar 27
59295   2024-055BSL-4 R/B2024 Mar 25
59286   2024-052GCZ-2D R/B2024 Mar 23

Note on TIP Messages

Close to re-entry time for many objects, SpaceTrack issues TIP Messages with a more-precise warning of the event. The meaning of the TIP acronym is 'Tracking and Impact Prediction'.

The message includes an estimated latitude and longitude for when the object will go through a height of 10 kilometres (definition - Space-Track) above the ground based on the estimated time. It is a rough indication of the start point of the ellipse within which debris might fall given that horizontal velocity will have reduced to near-zero because of air resistance. In most cases, the location is meaningless in practical terms because the Window included in the Message covers a long track across the Earth's surface.

TIP Messages are often a source of confusion as people take the predicted time literally and ignore the error margin (Window) that is also part of the message. In 2011 RIA-Novosti used a TIP Message, issued several weeks in advance, to pinpoint a village in North Africa, doggedly insisting that it would feel the full force of of Phobos-Grunt’s re-entry. SpaceTrack's Window was ±2 days, representing over one million kilometres of ground track and a large proportion of the Earth's surface between 52° North and 52° South.


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