Space Brief 9 Nov 2025
Today's top stories include SpaceX's latest Starlink launch, Blue Origin's FAA exemption request, and major acquisitions by Intuitive Machines and Firefly Aerospace shaping the defense and space landscape.
Launch Date
December 6, 1980
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC36B
Launch Vehicle
Atlas SLV-3D Centaur
NORAD ID
12089
International Designator
1980-098A
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 22:46:25 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
11.27°
Right Ascension
326.89°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
323.74°
Period
1456.18 min
Mean Motion
0.99 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
INTELSAT 502
Alternative Name
INTELSAT 502
Type
Status
Owner
INTEL
Country
INTELSAT
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 12089U 80098A 26184.94890771 .00000064 00000-0 00000-0 0 9991
2 12089 11.2693 326.8868 0009171 323.7353 32.6503 0.98888543133884
Source: Celestrak
Length
6.4
Diameter
2
Span
15.9
Dry Mass
775
Launch Mass
945
Shape
Box + 2 Pan
Radar Cross Section
13.3496
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
INTELSAT V F2
Purpose
Communication
Mission
Communication
Manufacturer
FORDA
Life Expectancy
7 years
Bus
FS INTELSAT 5
Configuration
Intelsat-5 bus
Motor
Star 37F
Equipment
21 C-band transponders, 4 Ku-band transponders
Power System
2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Today's top stories include SpaceX's latest Starlink launch, Blue Origin's FAA exemption request, and major acquisitions by Intuitive Machines and Firefly Aerospace shaping the defense and space landscape.
Recent Starlink launches, autonomous navigation for satellite swarms, major funding for asteroid mining, and insights into NASA's various projects and developments.
Space Force projects 30,000-satellite orbital architecture by 2040 amid combat integration revelations. Gen. Saltzman confirms space operations were critical in Iran conflict.
SpaceX's 100th Falcon 9 mission successfully launched 24 Starlink satellites, continuing to expand its broadband constellation.
SpaceX surpassed 10,000 simultaneous Starlink satellites in orbit after Starlink 17-24 deployed 25 satellites from California. Milestone reached in under 7 years.
SpaceX shares jumped nearly 20% in its historic public debut, valuing the company partly on Starlink's AI infrastructure potential with 10,636 satellites working.
SpaceX delays the much-anticipated Falcon Heavy launch of the secretive X-37B military spaceplane, marking a significant moment in space exploration and military technology.
Today's briefing covers collaborations enhancing defense capabilities, new satellite technologies entering the market, and strategic shifts in military satellite applications.