16 May
2024
16 May
'24
2:20 p.m.
The following satellite has been removed from this week's AMSAT-NA TLE distribution:
CHOMPTT NORAD Cat ID 43855 Decayed from orbit on or about 13 May 2024
This satellite's demise came perhaps a day or two earlier than it otherwise might have due to the atmosphere's expansion as a result last week's unusual solar activity. Note the sharp knee in its altitude curve during its final days https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/graph-altitude.php?CATNR=43855 Compare to E-ST@R-II which re-entered last week https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/graph-altitude.php?CATNR=43855 which has a smoother curve typical of re-entering cubesats.
Joe Fitzgerald KM1P AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager