Rocket Lab to Acquire Iridium for $8B, X Report 30 Jun 2026
Rocket Lab will acquire Iridium for $8B to challenge SpaceX, whose Starlink constellation holds 10,706 working satellites of 12,390 launched.
Launch Date
June 4, 1981
Launch Site
PLMSC
Launch Pad
LC132/2
Launch Vehicle
Kosmos 11K65M
NORAD ID
12720
International Designator
1981-053BM
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 15:20:35 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
83.25°
Right Ascension
56.30°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
127.17°
Period
103.77 min
Mean Motion
13.88 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
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 12720U 81053BM 26184.63930103 .00001200 00000-0 95006-3 0 9991
2 12720 83.2498 56.3027 0111888 127.1708 263.0921 13.87725187111920
Source: Celestrak
Length
0
Diameter
0
Span
0
Dry Mass
0
Launch Mass
0
Shape
N/A
Radar Cross Section
0.1101
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
Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Rocket Lab will acquire Iridium for $8B to challenge SpaceX, whose Starlink constellation holds 10,706 working satellites of 12,390 launched.
SpaceX executes dual Starlink launches and secures Dragonfly mission contract while managing NRO satellite deployment.
Ninety-five years ago, a 24-year-old astronomer with no college degree made one of astronomy's most remarkable discoveries, finding a new planet that would challenge our understanding of the solar system
Today's highlights include SpaceX's rapid Starlink launches, insights into China's Mars sample return mission, and ULA's future launch plans. Also, a new Space Force general takes the reins of the U.S. missile defense program.
Busy activities in space: SpaceX's series of Starlink launches dominate the week, while Vega C successfully deploys Earth science satellites.
Today's highlights include Russia's record-setting satellite launch, insights from NASA's AWE during Hurricane Helene, and confirmation of astronaut Suni Williams' good health aboard the ISS.
Today's Space Brief covers potential changes in the procurement strategies for the Space Force, developments in missile detection technology, and budgetary impacts on space programs.
SpaceX's secretive Starfall reentry demo launched June 23 as Starmind AI constellation targets 1M orbital compute nodes.