X Report 24 Oct 2025
SpaceX achieves a new milestone with its record 139th launch of the year while competition heats up in satellite communications.
TRANSIT 5B-2 (00704)
COSPAR: 1963-049B | Alt Name: Transit VBN-2
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
December 5, 1963
Launch Site
AFWTR
Launch Pad
75-1-1
Launch Vehicle
Thor Ablestar
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
00704
International Designator
1963-049B
Epoch
Mon, 20 Jul 2026 21:02:28 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
89.92°
Right Ascension
70.17°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
199.53°
Period
106.89 min
Mean Motion
13.47 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Polar Plot
3D Visualization
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Basic Satellite Info
Name
TRANSIT 5B-2
Alternative Name
Transit VBN-2
Type
Payload
Status
Unknown
Owner
BUWEPS
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 00704U 63049B 26201.87671899 .00000022 00000+0 20689-4 0 9991
2 00704 89.9207 70.1732 0034112 199.5298 171.8210 13.47129638 75862
Source: Celestrak
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
0.6
Diameter
0.5
Span
30
Dry Mass
75
Launch Mass
75
Shape
Oct Cyl + Cyl + Ant
Radar Cross Section
1.1223
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Transit VBN-2
Purpose
Navigation
Mission
Navigation
Manufacturer
APL
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Transit 5
Configuration
Transit-Bus
Motor
?
Equipment
?
Power System
SNAP-9A RTG
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Map
Next Pass
Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)
Start Azimuth
Max Elevation
Stop Azimuth
Time Until
Pass Duration
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