The Day Columbia's Crew Shared Their Vision of Peace
Twenty-two years ago, the crew of Space Shuttle Columbia awakened to John Lennon's 'Imagine' and shared a profound message about unity and peace that would become part of their enduring legacy
WESTFORD NEEDLES (02796)
COSPAR: 1963-014AQ | Alt Name: West Ford dipoles
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
May 9, 1963
Launch Site
AFWTR
Launch Pad
LC1-2
Launch Vehicle
Atlas Agena B
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
02796
International Designator
1963-014AQ
Epoch
Sun, 19 Jul 2026 01:54:55 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
87.20°
Right Ascension
83.33°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
130.59°
Period
165.82 min
Mean Motion
8.68 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Explore in the Catalog
Basic Satellite Info
Name
WESTFORD NEEDLES
Alternative Name
West Ford dipoles
Type
Debris
Status
Space Junk
Owner
AFSSD
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 02796U 63014AQ 26200.07980727 .00001078 00000+0 40843+0 0 9991
2 02796 87.2028 83.3253 0590867 130.5883 234.7949 08.68435593927827
Source: Celestrak
Summary
Space debris, also known as space junk, encompasses all non-functional objects orbiting Earth such as defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and fragments from collisions or disintegrations. Over time, this debris can accumulate and create an increasingly hazardous environment in orbit. Even tiny fragments, traveling at extremely high velocities, can inflict significant damage on operational satellites and spacecraft. If left unmanaged, the density of debris raises the risk of catastrophic collisions and further fragmentation, compounding the problem and threatening the safety and sustainability of space activities.
Physical Characteristics
Length
0
Diameter
0
Span
0
Dry Mass
0
Launch Mass
0
Shape
N/A
Radar Cross Section
0.236
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
RCS 0.21
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
Unknown
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Unknown
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Map
Next Pass
Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)
Start Azimuth
Max Elevation
Stop Azimuth
Time Until
Pass Duration
Satellite Articles
View All Posts »Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Starship Barge Spotted for Component Transport to Kennedy Space Center | KeepTrack X Report
Starship transport barge identified for shipping components from Starbase to Kennedy Space Center. Starlink's 2025 report shows 4.6M new customers and expansion to 35 new regions.
SpaceX and xAI Tapped for Pentagon's $100M Drone Contest | KeepTrack X Report
Pentagon selects SpaceX and xAI for $100M autonomous drone competition. Two Falcon 9 rockets launch Starlink sats from California and Florida. 11,215 total Starlink satellites launched.
Pentagon Orders 30,000 One-Way Drones; Sierra Space Raises $550M | KeepTrack Space Brief
Pentagon to order 30,000 attritable drones within days via Gauntlet competition. Meanwhile, Sierra Space closes $550M Series C funding round for national security spaceplane applications.
SpaceX IPO Terms Strip Investor Rights | KeepTrack X Report
SpaceX's reported IPO structure grants Elon Musk unchecked control and forces 220,000-GPU Colossus AI deal into the spotlight.
Space Brief 31 Oct 2024
SpaceX achieves a new launch record with its Starlink mission, NASA's Perseverance rover captures eerie Martian winds, and Buzz Aldrin endorses Trump. Plus, discussions around space debris and military space tech agreements.
NRO Expands Commercial Satellite Role to Airborne Target Tracking | KeepTrack Space Brief
NRO awards three commercial data contracts and explores vetting satellite firms for airborne target tracking via U.S. Space Force. Strategic expansion of GEOINT capabilities.
GOES-G | The Day a Weather Satellite Exploded Over the Atlantic
Forty years ago today, a Delta 3914 lifted off Cape Canaveral with a weather satellite the country could not afford to lose. Seventy-one seconds later, its main engine cut off. Ninety-one seconds in, the range safety officer pressed his button. The third domino of a brutal 1986 had fallen.