Space Brief 21 Oct 2024
Today's Space Brief covers SpaceX's recent launch for OneWeb, advances in remote-control robots for lunar missions, the power loss of Intelsat 33e, and developments in inflatable space habitats.
COSMOS 1303 DEB (12841)
COSPAR: 1981-086G | Alt Name: KDU
DECAYED
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
September 4, 1981
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC31
Launch Vehicle
Soyuz-U
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
12841
International Designator
1981-086G
Decay Date
2/6/1982
Basic Satellite Info
Name
COSMOS 1303 DEB
Alternative Name
KDU
Type
Debris
Status
Space Junk
Owner
GUKOS
Country
USSR
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Summary
Space debris, also known as space junk, encompasses all non-functional objects orbiting Earth such as defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and fragments from collisions or disintegrations. Over time, this debris can accumulate and create an increasingly hazardous environment in orbit. Even tiny fragments, traveling at extremely high velocities, can inflict significant damage on operational satellites and spacecraft. If left unmanaged, the density of debris raises the risk of catastrophic collisions and further fragmentation, compounding the problem and threatening the safety and sustainability of space activities.
Physical Characteristics
Length
1
Diameter
0.4
Span
1
Dry Mass
140
Launch Mass
425
Shape
Frust
Radar Cross Section
0.91
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
KDU
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
TSSKB
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Zenit KDU
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Satellite Articles
View All Posts »Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Two-Line Element Set (TLE)
The compact data format that describes every tracked satellite orbit in just two lines of text, and how to read it
SpaceX to Launch 11,000th Starlink Satellite, Crew-12 Moved Up to Feb 11 | KeepTrack X Report
SpaceX set to launch 11,000th Starlink satellite on Starlink 17-19 from Vandenberg. NASA moves Crew-12 launch to Feb 11 after ISS medical evacuation. Starship V3 targets mid-March first flight.
108 Minutes That Changed Everything - and the 20-Year Echo That Followed
On April 12, 1961, a 27-year-old Soviet pilot rode a modified ICBM into orbit and came back alive after 108 minutes. Exactly twenty years later, two Americans climbed aboard an untested spacecraft covered in 31,000 ceramic tiles and bet their lives that the math was right.
X Report 21 Jun 2025
Today's report highlights the causes behind a recent Starship explosion, a significant delay in Axiom-4's launch, and the ongoing tension surrounding SpaceX's market dominance.
X Report 6 Apr 2025
SpaceX's Fram2 mission lands in the Pacific, SpaceX secures U.S. military contracts, and Starlink expands with latest satellite launch.
Starcloud Files 88,000-Satellite Constellation Plan | KeepTrack Space Brief
Starcloud files FCC plans for 88,000-satellite orbital data center constellation, matching scale of Starlink and Amazon Kuiper expansions. Massive LEO conjunction risk implications.
X Report 12 Jun 2025
Today, SpaceX faced delays in launching the Ax-4 mission due to a booster leak, while Starlink made strides towards launching in India with new telecom license approval.