MobbleOpen in Mobble ⇢
Science · Space exploration · published 2026-10-09 · via KeepTrack

Unseenlabs SIGINT CubeSat Losing Altitude

Image via KeepTrack
Image via KeepTrack

BRO-5, a 6U CubeSat operated by France's Unseenlabs, is a 10 kg spacecraft launched in January 2022 to monitor radio-frequency signals and locate transmitters. Over 89 days its semi-major axis decreased by 7.4 km, leaving perigee at 415 km, and it has no propulsion to counteract drag. The satellite remains listed as operational in a near-circular sun-synchronous orbit at about 415 by 424 km and 97.29 degrees inclination.

Expanded Detail

EXPANDED:

BRO-5 is a 6U CubeSat built by GomSpace for Unseenlabs, cataloged as 2022-002CF and NORAD 51061. It launched on a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral’s LC-40 on 13 January 2022, sharing a rideshare with many payloads. Its 10 kg mass and lack of listed propellant help explain why drag is steadily lowering its orbit.

The satellite tracks radio-frequency emissions for spectrum surveillance, signals intelligence, and traffic observation. In an almost circular, sun-synchronous path at 415 by 424 km and 97.29°, it completes about 15.51 revolutions daily. Over 89 days its semi-major axis fell from 6,805.0 to 6,797.7 km, roughly 83 m per day, while

Expanded detail and Context are AI-generated analysis; the linked article remains the authoritative source.
Read the full article at KeepTrack →
Related stories
Chinese Communications Experiment Satellite Maintains Orbital Position While Inclination Drifts Naturally · Space exploration
This summary is Al-enhanced to contain extended analysis and broader social context. The original is {NAME); the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “Unseenlabs CubeSat BRO-5 Drops 7.4 km in 89 Days as Drag Builds.” Browse more stories.