Space Brief 6 Sep 2025
Today's brief covers China's latest experimental launch to GEO and new commercial satellites, insights from hyperspectral imagery on underground structures, and the Space Force's material testing for Mars missions.
Launch Date
May 1, 1978
Launch Site
AFWTR
Launch Pad
SLC10W
Launch Vehicle
Thor DSV-2U
NORAD ID
10820
International Designator
1978-042A
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 05:49:54 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
98.45°
Right Ascension
19.79°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
301.15°
Period
100.13 min
Mean Motion
14.38 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Name
OPS 6182 (DMSP 5D-1 F3)
Alternative Name
DMSP F-3
Type
Status
Owner
SAMSO
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 10820U 78042A 26185.24298837 .00000438 00000-0 15897-3 0 9995
2 10820 98.4484 19.7925 0008258 301.1462 58.8915 14.38093347515462
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
6.1
Diameter
1.5
Span
6.1
Dry Mass
447
Launch Mass
447
Shape
Box + Pan
Radar Cross Section
3.3972
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
DMSP Block 5D S-3
Purpose
Meteorology
Mission
Meteorology
Manufacturer
RCA
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Block 5D
Configuration
TIROS-N Bus
Motor
Star 37S
Equipment
see above
Power System
Deployable solar array, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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