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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.
The majority of 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 an actual landing.
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 Recent Re-entries list further down the page.
Below are re-entries expected over the next days. The list includes only natural re-entries and it excludes planned events such as a Soyuz, Shenzhou or Dragon spacecraft returning from space station duties.
Table created: 2026 Apr 12, 06:03 UTC
| Cat No |
Designation |
Name (SpaceTrack) |
Predicted Date UTC |
Prediction Issued UTC |
| 56293 | 2023-056H | Starlink 30090 | 2026 Apr 11 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 66911 | 1998-067XX | name not known | 2026 Apr 12 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 30674 | 1999-025AQG | Fengyun 1C debris | 2026 Apr 13 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 42361 | 2000-055RD | NOAA 16 debris | 2026 Apr 13 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 47657 | 2021-012AP | Starlink 2041 | 2026 Apr 13 | 2026 Apr 1 | | 56401 | 2023-061AD | Starlink 6256 | 2026 Apr 13 | 2026 Apr 12 | | 68413 | 2026-066B | Lijian 2 second stage | 2026 Apr 13 | 2026 Apr 12 | | 67922 | 2026-036U | Starlink 36383 | 2026 Apr 13 | 2026 Apr 11 | | 46376 | 2020-062BD | Starlink 1742 | 2026 Apr 14 | 2026 Apr 1 | | 54890 | 2022-151QB | CZ 6A debris | 2026 Apr 14 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 61377 | 2024-140WS | CZ 6A debris | 2026 Apr 14 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 53901 | 2022-119R | Starlink 5024 | 2026 Apr 14 | 2026 Apr 12 | | 52534 | 2022-051B | Starlink 3952 | 2026 Apr 14 | 2026 Apr 10 | | 68224 | 2026-053T | Starlink 36977 | 2026 Apr 14 | 2026 Apr 11 | | 34010 | 1993-036GV | Cosmos 2251 debris | 2026 Apr 15 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 63382 | 2025-063V | Starlink 33633 | 2026 Apr 15 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 47667 | 2021-012AZ | Starlink 2058 | 2026 Apr 15 | 2026 Apr 12 | | 68411 | 2026-065D | Electron stage 3 | 2026 Apr 15 | 2026 Apr 12 | | 46700 | 2020-073AG | Starlink 1800 | 2026 Apr 16 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 52451 | 2022-049A | Starlink 3870 | 2026 Apr 16 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 65941 | 1998-067XN | Yotsuba-KUlover | 2026 Apr 16 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 47622 | 2021-012C | Starlink 1645 | 2026 Apr 16 | 2026 Apr 11 | | 53965 | 2022-125B | Starlink 4578 | 2026 Apr 16 | 2026 Apr 11 | | 20947 | 1990-100C | Ariane 42P rocket stage | 2026 Apr 17 | 2026 Apr 1 | | 30613 | 1999-025AMU | Fengyun 1C debris | 2026 Apr 17 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 59245 | 2024-049Q | Starlink 31268 | 2026 Apr 17 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 60638 | 2024-140AP | CZ-6A debris | 2026 Apr 17 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 63666 | 2025-085C | Starlink 11664 | 2026 Apr 17 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 65943 | 1998-067XQ | IWATO | 2026 Apr 17 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 26661 | 1999-057LT | CZ 4 debris | 2026 Apr 18 | 2026 Apr 1 | | 34886 | 1993-036ACZ | Cosmos 2251 debris | 2026 Apr 18 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 46274 | 2020-061C | ION SCV 001 | 2026 Apr 18 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 46564 | 2020-070AJ | Starlink 1733 | 2026 Apr 18 | 2026 Apr 1 | | 46578 | 2020-070AY | Starlink 1683 | 2026 Apr 18 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 46744 | 2020-074F | Starlink 1894 | 2026 Apr 18 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 46038 | 2020-055M | Starlink 1567 | 2026 Apr 18 | 2026 Apr 11 | | 27126 | 2001-049BW | PSLV debris | 2026 Apr 19 | 2026 Apr 1 | | 34464 | 1993-036TH | Cosmos 2251 debris | 2026 Apr 19 | 2026 Apr 1 | | 46164 | 2020-057AZ | Starlink 1612 | 2026 Apr 19 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 47380 | 2021-005AH | Starlink 2100 | 2026 Apr 19 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 47566 | 2021-009U | Starlink 1965 | 2026 Apr 19 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 47624 | 2021-012E | Starlink 1669 | 2026 Apr 19 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 47679 | 2021-012BM | Starlink 2095 | 2026 Apr 19 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 51816 | 2022-017BA | Starlink 3603 | 2026 Apr 19 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 58277 | 2023-174X | Tiger 5 | 2026 Apr 19 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 63490 | 2025-052BL | HYDRA-W | 2026 Apr 19 | 2026 Apr 1 | | 66402 | 2025-257Y | Starlink 35644 | 2026 Apr 19 | 2026 Apr 1 | | 66909 | 1998-067XV | Silversat | 2026 Apr 19 | 2026 Apr 1 | | 68127 | 2026-046A | Firefly Alpha second stage | 2026 Apr 19 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 46681 | 2020-073M | Starlink 1775 | 2026 Apr 20 | 2026 Apr 1 | | 46792 | 2020-074BF | Starlink 1934 | 2026 Apr 20 | 2026 Apr 1 | | 54908 | 2022-151QV | CZ 6A debris | 2026 Apr 20 | 2026 Apr 1 | | 57430 | 2023-105A | Starlink 30189 | 2026 Apr 20 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 63811 | 2025-092H | Starlink 34110 | 2026 Apr 20 | 2026 Apr 8 |
Recent TIP Messages
TIP messages are not a matter of routine and are not issued for all re-entries. They are more up to date and more precise than the Recent Re-entries list.
If you are unfamiliar with how to interpret TIP messages, you 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 entered the 'Recent' list.
Here is a list of TIP messages where the Window is less than about one quarter orbit. Even then it represents as much as ±9000 km of ground track. Where the window is ±1 minute, the re-entry signature was probably registered by a detector carried on a specialised 'space awareness' satellite.
Table created: 2026 Apr 12, 06:03 UTC
Cat No & Designation |
Name |
Terminal Date & Time UTC |
Lat, Long & Heading (10 km altitude) |
TIP Message Issued UTC |
68188 2026-050X | Starlink 36340 | 2026 Apr 10 09:08 ± 2 minute(s) | 52°.5 south, 73°.3 east southbound, ± 0.02 orbits | 2026 Apr 10 13:47 | 66402 2025-257Y | Starlink 35644 | 2026 Apr 10 11:15 ± 1 minute(s) | 10°.2 south, 115°.4 west southbound, ± 0.01 orbits | 2026 Apr 10 12:46 | 60735 2024-152R | Starlink 32272 | 2026 Apr 5 10:20 ± 1 minute(s) | 29°.8 south, 23°.3 west southbound, ± 0.01 orbits | 2026 Apr 5 12:16 | 59231 2024-049A | Starlink 31304 | 2026 Apr 6 05:30 ± 1 minute(s) | 19°.2 south, 133°.9 west southbound, ± 0.01 orbits | 2026 Apr 6 10:34 | 57473 2023-107S | Starlink 30187 | 2026 Apr 8 21:21 ± 1 minute(s) | 37°.7 south, 94°.6 west southbound, ± 0.01 orbits | 2026 Apr 9 02:48 | 56293 2023-056H | Starlink 30090 | 2026 Apr 8 08:58 ± 1 minute(s) | 1°.6 south, 118°.7 west southbound, ± 0.01 orbits | 2026 Apr 8 12:40 | 47724 2021-017C | Starlink 2116 | 2026 Apr 10 21:03 ± 1 minute(s) | 51°.6 south, 53°.3 east southbound, ± 0.01 orbits | 2026 Apr 10 22:41 | 47133 2020-088M | Starlink 1843 | 2026 Apr 6 07:49 ± 1 minute(s) | 8°.6 south, 25°.1 west southbound, ± 0.01 orbits | 2026 Apr 6 10:33 | 46354 2020-062AF | Starlink 1657 | 2026 Apr 10 04:32 ± 1 minute(s) | 36°.4 south, 114°.1 east southbound, ± 0.01 orbits | 2026 Apr 10 06:44 | 46131 2020-057Q | Starlink 1625 | 2026 Apr 9 10:26 ± 1 minute(s) | 49°.4 south, 23°.3 west southbound, ± 0.01 orbits | 2026 Apr 9 11:58 | 46117 2020-057A | Starlink 1585 | 2026 Apr 9 08:06 ± 1 minute(s) | 48°.7 south, 71°.4 east southbound, ± 0.01 orbits | 2026 Apr 9 11:48 | 44736 2019-074Z | Starlink | 2026 Apr 9 23:11 ± 1 minute(s) | 32°.8 south, 19°.5 west southbound, ± 0.01 orbits | 2026 Apr 10 03:13 | 40750 2015-037C | CZ 3B fourth stage | 2026 Apr 7 10:31 ± 1 minute(s) | 39°.9 north, 39°.9 east southbound, ± 0.01 orbits | 2026 Apr 7 12:40 | 18748 1988-001A | Cosmos 1908 | 2026 Apr 8 00:06 ± 1 minute(s) | 51°.3 north, 120°.3 west southbound, ± 0.01 orbits | 2026 Apr 8 03:48 |
Recent Re-entries
This table is extracted from Space-Track's Catalogue and lists re-entries that occurred in the last 30 days, whether natural or deliberate. Sometimes the date shown indicates when the object was noticed as 'missing from orbit', re-entry may actually have occurred at least one day earlier.
Table created: 2026 Apr 12, 06:03 UTC
| Cat No |
Designation |
Name |
Date UTC |
| 68538 | 2026-069A | Artemis 2 | 2026 Apr 10 | | 68188 | 2026-050X | Starlink 36340 | 2026 Apr 10 | | 66402 | 2025-257Y | Starlink 35644 | 2026 Apr 10 | | 46349 | 2020-062AA | Starlink 1575 | 2026 Apr 10 | | 46354 | 2020-062AF | Starlink 1657 | 2026 Apr 10 | | 47724 | 2021-017C | Starlink 2116 | 2026 Apr 10 | | 62689 | 2025-009CJ | LOGSATS | 2026 Apr 9 | | 44736 | 2019-074Z | Starlink | 2026 Apr 9 | | 46117 | 2020-057A | Starlink 1585 | 2026 Apr 9 | | 46131 | 2020-057Q | Starlink 1625 | 2026 Apr 9 | | 18748 | 1988-001A | Cosmos 1908 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 43182 | 2018-014C | Lemur-2 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 56293 | 2023-056H | Starlink 30090 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 57473 | 2023-107S | Starlink 30187 | 2026 Apr 8 | | 60205 | 2024-125C | name not known | 2026 Apr 8 | | 40750 | 2015-037C | CZ 3B fourth stage | 2026 Apr 7 | | 32184 | 1999-025CUE | Fengyun 1C debris | 2026 Apr 7 | | 53657 | 2022-105K | Starlink 4469 | 2026 Apr 6 | | 47133 | 2020-088M | Starlink 1843 | 2026 Apr 6 | | 46267 | 2020-059C | Echostar Global 1 | 2026 Apr 6 | | 59231 | 2024-049A | Starlink 31304 | 2026 Apr 6 | | 62614 | 2025-009F | name not known | 2026 Apr 6 | | 68376 | 2026-009E | Debris item | 2026 Apr 6 | | 51834 | 2022-019L | name not known | 2026 Apr 5 | | 46717 | 2020-073AZ | Starlink 1820 | 2026 Apr 5 | | 60735 | 2024-152R | Starlink 32272 | 2026 Apr 5 |
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 lost in the mists of time so Space-Track has re-invented it as 'Tracking and Impact Prediction'.
The message includes an estimated time, latitude and longitude for when the object will go through a height of 10 kilometres (definition - Space-Track) above the ground. 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 some cases, the location is imprecise 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). 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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