Space Brief 14 Aug 2025
Today's brief covers the Vulcan Centaur's first mission, military space automation insights, and the retirement reflections of a Space Force leader.
Launch Date
April 28, 1971
Launch Site
PLMSC
Launch Pad
LC132/1
Launch Vehicle
Kosmos 11K65M
NORAD ID
05180
International Designator
1971-038A
Epoch
Sun, 19 Jul 2026 19:33:17 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
74.00°
Right Ascension
324.38°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
208.95°
Period
109.27 min
Mean Motion
13.18 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
COSMOS 409
Alternative Name
Kosmos-409
Type
Status
Owner
OKB10
Country
USSR
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 05180U 71038A 26200.81478183 .00000038 00000+0 14770-3 0 9995
2 05180 74.0040 324.3759 0023087 208.9547 316.6691 13.17846072656546
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
2
Span
17
Dry Mass
800
Launch Mass
800
Shape
Cyl + Ant
Radar Cross Section
2.4377
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Sfera No. 15L
Purpose
Geodesy
Mission
Geodesy
Manufacturer
OKB10
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
KAUR-1 11F621
Configuration
KAUR-1
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Solar cells, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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