The Day Japan Joined the Geostationary Club
Forty-eight years ago, a pioneering satellite named Kiku 2 propelled Japan into the exclusive group of nations capable of operating satellites in geostationary orbit
Launch Date
June 6, 1980
Launch Site
PLMSC
Launch Pad
LC132/1
Launch Vehicle
Kosmos 11K65M
NORAD ID
12413
International Designator
1980-047J
Decay Date
5/3/1981
Name
COSMOS 1186 DEB
Alternative Name
Kosmos-1186 SS 6
Type
Status
Owner
PVO
Country
USSR
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Length
0.2
Diameter
0.2
Span
0.2
Dry Mass
5
Launch Mass
5
Shape
Sphere
Radar Cross Section
0.18
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
ESO
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
YUZH
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
ESO
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Forty-eight years ago, a pioneering satellite named Kiku 2 propelled Japan into the exclusive group of nations capable of operating satellites in geostationary orbit
Today's highlights include Europe's record space budget for independence, Transporter-15's successful launch of 140 payloads, and the damage to the Baikonur pad affecting upcoming ISS missions.
SpaceX launches NROL-105 spy satellite from Vandenberg in first national security mission of 2026. GE and Lockheed validate compact rotating detonation ramjet for hypersonic missiles.
SpaceX scrubbed Starship Flight 12's V3 debut due to a hydraulic pin fault, then filed an $18.7B IPO S-1 targeting Nasdaq under ticker SPCX.
Starlink constellation size in March 2026: 9,996 satellites in orbit and 9,986 working from 11,504 launched, as SpaceX deorbits legacy V1.0 hardware.
ULA Vulcan faces scrutiny after solid booster anomaly on USSF-87 mission. ThinKom wins portable satellite ground station contract. Space Force starts Project Hecate for GPS past 2040.
Artemis 2's four astronauts entered lunar sphere of influence April 6, first crewed arrival since Apollo 17. NASA simultaneously proposed 25% budget cut for FY2027.
SpaceX continues to make strides with record-breaking Falcon launches while overcoming regulatory challenges for Starlink in India.