€140M ESA Launcher Funding at Risk of Lapse | KeepTrack Space Brief
Nearly €140 million in ESA launcher development funds faces forfeiture with no replacement mechanism. Europe's independent launch capacity under pressure as Arianespace struggles.
WESTFORD NEEDLES (05954)
COSPAR: 1963-014CX | Alt Name: West Ford dipoles
DECAYED
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
05954
International Designator
1963-014CX
Decay Date
11/22/1982
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
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
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Unknown
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
Satellite Articles
View All Posts »Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Block 3 Starship Pad Work Accelerates at Starbase | KeepTrack X Report
SpaceX engineers are overhauling Starbase launch infrastructure for Block 3 Starships as Falcon 9 prepares another Starlink batch run.
Space Brief 18 Jul 2025
Today's highlights include Space Force prioritizing military missions, testing new GPS satellite software, and international defense collaborations impacting space assets.
Space Brief 17 Nov 2025
Today's highlights include key advancements for the Dream Chaser, SpaceX's record launches, Moon mission crowding concerns, and updates in European space policy.
Space Brief 6 Nov 2024
Discover the latest in satellite technology with the launch of the world's first wooden satellite, new test materials for the ISS, and significant developments in orbital space debris.
Space Brief 17 Aug 2025
Today's space news features major US Space Force satellite launches, regulatory changes supporting private space initiatives, and updates on SpaceX's Starship advances.
L3Harris, Sierra Space Win $1.75B Missile-Tracking Satellite Contract | KeepTrack Space Brief
L3Harris and Sierra Space awarded $1.75 billion to build 36 missile-tracking satellites for SDA's Tracking Layer constellation. Hypersonic and ballistic missile detection from low Earth orbit.
The Day America's Revolutionary Rocket Design Made Its Final Flight
Twenty years ago, an Atlas rocket carrying a classified payload lifted off from Cape Canaveral, marking the end of a revolutionary spacecraft design that helped launch America into the Space Age