Space Brief 9 Dec 2024
Highlights include China's rising threats in space, a new Starlink launch, NASA's optimistic future, and a cosmic conjunction featuring the Moon and Saturn.
Launch Date
October 26, 1973
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC17B
Launch Vehicle
Delta 1604
NORAD ID
06893
International Designator
1973-078A
Epoch
Tue, 15 Jul 2025 13:53:57 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
9.07°
Right Ascension
118.53°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
108.52°
Period
17381.24 min
Mean Motion
0.08 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Name
EXPLORER 50 (IMP-8)
Alternative Name
IMP 8
Type
Status
Owner
GSFC
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 06893U 73078A 25196.57914162 -.00001058 00000+0 00000+0 0 9992
2 06893 9.0739 118.5325 1991774 108.5150 0.8671 00.08284795 11624
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
1.6
Diameter
1.3
Span
125
Dry Mass
273
Launch Mass
273
Shape
Hexadec Cyl + 2 Ant
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
IMP J
Purpose
Research, Magnetosphere
Mission
Research, Magnetosphere
Manufacturer
GSFC
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
IMP
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Star 17A
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Solar cells, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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