Space Brief 25 Jun 2025
Today's highlights include the launch of a U.S. military satellite via SpaceX, a new French defense agreement for satellite services, and the Missile Defense Agency's successful ICBM target tracking with long-range radar.
TIROS 9 (00978)
COSPAR: 1965-004A | Alt Name: Tiros 9
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
January 22, 1965
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC17A
Launch Vehicle
Thor Delta C
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
00978
International Designator
1965-004A
Epoch
Mon, 20 Jul 2026 08:02:51 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
96.41°
Right Ascension
335.12°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
323.40°
Period
118.90 min
Mean Motion
12.11 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Polar Plot
3D Visualization
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Basic Satellite Info
Name
TIROS 9
Alternative Name
Tiros 9
Type
Payload
Status
Non-operational
Owner
GSFC
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 00978U 65004A 26201.33531610 -.00000093 00000+0 -92242-4 0 9998
2 00978 96.4063 335.1218 1157070 323.4011 29.3122 12.11148629715627
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
1.1
Span
0.6
Dry Mass
138
Launch Mass
138
Shape
Cyl
Radar Cross Section
0.761
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Tiros I
Purpose
Meteorology
Mission
Meteorology
Manufacturer
RCA
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Tiros I
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
?
Equipment
2 x AVCS (#T9, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9); 2 x APT (#2, 4, 6, 8); FPR (#3, 5, 7, 9)
Power System
Solar cells, batteries
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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