LeoLabs and the Business of Watching Everything
A startup built on Cold War-era radar science now tracks 25,000 objects in orbit - and the Pentagon can't get enough of it. But can its radars really compete with the Space Surveillance Network?
BLACK SPHERE (00502)
COSPAR: 1962-067A | Alt Name: NRL PL120
DECAYED
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
December 13, 1962
Launch Site
AFWTR
Launch Pad
75-1-1
Launch Vehicle
Thor Agena D
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
00502
International Designator
1962-067A
Decay Date
2/9/1967
Explore in the Catalog
Basic Satellite Info
Name
BLACK SPHERE
Alternative Name
NRL PL120
Type
Payload
Status
Decayed
Owner
NRO/NRL
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Summary
Apologies, there is no summary for this satellite yet. I am working to generate these for every object in the catalog, but it is going to take time.
Physical Characteristics
Length
0.5
Diameter
0.5
Span
0.6
Dry Mass
25
Launch Mass
25
Shape
Sphere
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
POPPY 1 Alfa
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
Naval Research Laboratory
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
NRL 20
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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