Space Brief 3 Mar 2025
Historic moon landing by Firefly Aerospace, Spanish Air and Space Force advances with new simulator, and spotlight on OneWeb's communication satellite.
PALAPA B1 (14134)
COSPAR: 1983-059C | Alt Name: Palapa B1
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
June 18, 1983
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC39A
Launch Vehicle
Space Shuttle
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
14134
International Designator
1983-059C
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 03:37:38 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
11.56°
Right Ascension
329.39°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
121.48°
Period
1437.09 min
Mean Motion
1.00 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
PALAPA B1
Alternative Name
Palapa B1
Type
Payload
Status
Non-operational
Owner
PER
Country
Indonesia
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 14134U 83059C 26185.15113706 -.00000018 00000-0 00000-0 0 9994
2 14134 11.5596 329.3893 0002576 121.4785 246.8240 1.00202823120969
Source: Celestrak
Summary
PALAPA B1 is a communication satellite launched on June 18, 1983, from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A using a Space Shuttle launch vehicle. The spacecraft measures 6.5 meters in length and diameter, with a span of 6.5 meters, and has a dry mass of 500 kilograms. It is equipped with 24 C-band transponders for communication purposes and uses solar cells (body mounted and drop-skirt) along with batteries for power supply. The satellite was manufactured by HSES in Indonesia and stabilized on June 19, 1983. Its mission focuses on providing communication services.
Physical Characteristics
Length
6.5
Diameter
2.2
Span
6.5
Dry Mass
500
Launch Mass
660
Shape
Cyl
Radar Cross Section
1.2589
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Palapa B1
Purpose
Communication
Mission
Communication
Manufacturer
HSES
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
HS-376
Configuration
HS-376
Motor
TE-M-700-5
Equipment
24 C-band transponders
Power System
Solar cells (body mounted and drop-skirt), batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Map
Next Pass
Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)
Start Azimuth
Max Elevation
Stop Azimuth
Time Until
Pass Duration
Satellite Articles
View All Posts »Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Space Domain Awareness (SDA)
The evolution from simply tracking objects in orbit to understanding the full strategic picture of who is doing what in space, and why
Hypersonica Missile Hits Mach 6 in Norway Flight Test | KeepTrack Space Brief
Hypersonica completes Mach 6+ hypersonic missile flight test in Norway covering 300+ km. Pentagon seeks commercial GEO spy satellites. Gilat wins $9M Israeli defense satcom deal.
Space Brief 4 Jun 2025
Key developments include China's Shijian 26 satellite launch, U.S. Space Force's BAE Systems contract for missile-tracking satellites, and military advancements in space systems.
SpaceX Wins $57M Golden Dome Satellite Crosslink Deal | KeepTrack Space Brief
SpaceX secures $57 million military contract for Link-182 satellite crosslink demo supporting Golden Dome missile defense. Also joins software working group.
X Report 25 Jul 2025
SpaceX successfully launched NASA's TRACERS mission while Starlink faced a brief global outage, affecting users worldwide.
Space Brief 19 Jun 2025
Discover key developments in space defense and military operations, including new leadership for Space Force's 'Golden Dome,' SpaceX's contract for a military SATCOM network, and increased Israeli-Iranian missile activity.
Apophis 2029 Flyby: ESA-JAXA Joint Mission Locked In | KeepTrack Space Brief
ESA and JAXA finalize collaboration for asteroid Apophis 2029 flyby at 32,000 km—closer than geostationary orbit. Historic near-Earth encounter being heavily observed.