ESA-China SMILE Mission Reaches Orbit After 10-Year Push | KeepTrack Space Brief
ESA-China SMILE spacecraft successfully launched from Kourou to image Earth's magnetosphere. First continuous global views of solar wind interaction now in orbit.
Launch Date
November 6, 1973
Launch Site
AFWTR
Launch Pad
SLC2W
Launch Vehicle
Delta 0300
NORAD ID
14480
International Designator
1973-086GR
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 02:23:49 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
102.54°
Right Ascension
39.96°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
20.24°
Period
100.60 min
Mean Motion
14.31 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Name
DELTA 1 DEB
Alternative Name
deb Delta 98
Type
Status
Owner
GSFC
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 14480U 73086GR 26185.09988397 .00050517 00000-0 18147-1 0 9996
2 14480 102.5432 39.9648 0087384 20.2425 132.0447 14.31405962 61890
Source: Celestrak
Length
0
Diameter
0
Span
0
Dry Mass
0
Launch Mass
0
Shape
N/A
Radar Cross Section
0.0159
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.
ESA-China SMILE spacecraft successfully launched from Kourou to image Earth's magnetosphere. First continuous global views of solar wind interaction now in orbit.
SpaceX celebrates significant milestones with its Starship preparations, approaches a landmark Falcon booster landing, and enhances the ISS orbit with Dragon technology.
Today's Space Brief delves into military satellite advancements and significant contract awards for space platforms, alongside pivotal European missile warning systems.
Explore the latest advancements in satellite technology, military satellite applications, and collaborative efforts in hypersonic vehicle tracking. Discover the transformative power of new deals shaping global communication networks.
On April 17, 2026, the U.S. Space Force officially cancelled the Next Generation Operational Control System after sixteen years of development, cost overruns, and testing failures. The $8 billion program was supposed to unlock the military's encrypted GPS signal. Instead, the satellites are flying with capabilities the ground can't command.
SpaceX launches its 32nd cargo mission to the ISS, and NRO marks a milestone with over 200 satellites deployed.
Today's briefing covers collaborations enhancing defense capabilities, new satellite technologies entering the market, and strategic shifts in military satellite applications.
SpaceX successfully launches 23 Starlink satellites, NASA selects SpaceX for astrophysics mission, and Starship Flight 8 advances with Booster 15 static fire.