Space Brief 2 Jan 2025
Today's recap covers SpaceX's role in record launch numbers, the FCC's spectrum allocation for launches, and the historical portrayal of the Ingenuity helicopter.
Launch Date
April 8, 1970
Launch Site
AFWTR
Launch Pad
SLC2E
Launch Vehicle
Thorad SLV-2G Agena D
NORAD ID
04362
International Designator
1970-025A
Epoch
Sun, 19 Jul 2026 17:57:22 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
99.96°
Right Ascension
121.54°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
280.40°
Period
107.08 min
Mean Motion
13.45 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Name
NIMBUS 4
Alternative Name
Nimbus 4
Type
Status
Owner
GSFC
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 04362U 70025A 26200.74817530 -.00000019 00000+0 44187-4 0 9992
2 04362 99.9588 121.5366 0006722 280.3964 134.7068 13.44756746761222
Source: Celestrak
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.
Length
3
Diameter
3.3
Span
3.6
Dry Mass
619
Launch Mass
619
Shape
Cone + 2 Pan
Radar Cross Section
2.6535
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Nimbus D
Purpose
Meteorology, experimental
Mission
Meteorology, experimental
Manufacturer
GEVF
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Nimbus
Configuration
Nimbus Bus
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
IDCS, THIR, IRIS, SIRS, MUSE, BUV, FWS, SCR, IRLS
Power System
2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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