Air Force One Gets Starlink, Astrobotic Acquired | KeepTrack Space Brief
Trump's interim Air Force One—a $400M Boeing 747-8—equipped with Starlink for presidential communications. First confirmed LEO constellation use for White House comms.
Launch Date
March 26, 1974
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC81/23
Launch Vehicle
Proton-K/DM
NORAD ID
07231
International Designator
1974-017C
Decay Date
3/28/1974
Name
SL-12 R/B(1)
Alternative Name
Proton-K 282-01 Stage 3
Type
Status
Owner
RVSN
Country
USSR
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Length
6.5
Diameter
4.2
Span
6.5
Dry Mass
4185
Launch Mass
4185
Shape
Cyl
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
8S812
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
ZIKH
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
8S812
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Trump's interim Air Force One—a $400M Boeing 747-8—equipped with Starlink for presidential communications. First confirmed LEO constellation use for White House comms.
Today's brief covers Blue Origin's launch delay, SpaceX's upcoming Starlink mission, and highlights the YAOGAN-43 O1C satellite.
For nearly two decades, the U.S. Air Force and Space Force have been the world's unofficial civilian space traffic control system. The Department of Commerce's Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) is now taking over that job for commercial satellite operators - in stages, against persistent congressional pressure to kill the program, and with Department of Defense advocates pushing to make it happen before it is too late.
Forty-one years ago, astronaut Bruce McCandless II became the first human to float completely free in space, pushing the boundaries of both technology and human courage
On December 14, 2025, SpaceX achieved a significant milestone with its 550th booster landing following the launch of 27 new Starlink satellites, while exploring potential IPO strategies to fund future projects.
Elon Musk moves to make himself unfireable at SpaceX as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon back a rival D2D joint venture challenging Starlink Mobile.
Key developments in space today include significant satellite launches, advancements in space technology, and an exciting crewed suborbital flight. Highlights cover China's satellite internet progress, a promising innovation for solar cells, and recent SpaceX and Blue Origin activities.
SpaceX continues its robust launch cadence with new Starlink deployments and faces challenges in Starship development following the recent damage to its prototype booster.