The Day Electric Propulsion Changed Spaceflight Forever
Fifty-five years ago, a revolutionary spacecraft launched from California carrying technology that would transform how we explore the solar system
Launch Date
June 4, 1981
Launch Site
PLMSC
Launch Pad
LC132/2
Launch Vehicle
Kosmos 11K65M
NORAD ID
12649
International Designator
1981-053D
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 05:56:30 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
82.92°
Right Ascension
181.04°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
100.56°
Period
104.24 min
Mean Motion
13.81 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
COSMOS 1275 DEB
Alternative Name
deb Kosmos-1275
Type
Status
Owner
VMF
Country
USSR
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 12649U 81053D 26185.24757476 .00000390 00000-0 34841-3 0 9998
2 12649 82.9162 181.0366 0050467 100.5634 271.1243 13.81465664253653
Source: Celestrak
Length
0
Diameter
0
Span
0
Dry Mass
0
Launch Mass
0
Shape
N/A
Radar Cross Section
0.18
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Unknown
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
Unknown
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Unknown
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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Fifty-five years ago, a revolutionary spacecraft launched from California carrying technology that would transform how we explore the solar system
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