Space Brief 16 Sep 2024
Highlights of the day include the Polaris Dawn mission's splashdown, advances in space traffic management, and intriguing astronomy insights from the cloud's edge.
Launch Date
August 13, 1965
Launch Site
AFWTR
Launch Pad
75-1-1
Launch Vehicle
Thor Ablestar
NORAD ID
01520
International Designator
1965-065H
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 01:29:21 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
89.90°
Right Ascension
122.32°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
56.69°
Period
107.76 min
Mean Motion
13.36 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Name
CALSPHERE 4A
Alternative Name
Calsphere
Type
Status
Owner
Naval Research Laboratory
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 01520U 65065H 26185.06205904 .00000121 00000-0 21268-3 0 9994
2 01520 89.8989 122.3218 0071978 56.6948 315.5923 13.36281512964964
Source: Celestrak
Apologies, there is no summary for this satellite yet. I am working to generate these for every object in the catalog, but it is going to take time.
Length
0.4
Diameter
0.4
Span
0.4
Dry Mass
4
Launch Mass
4
Shape
Sphere
Radar Cross Section
0.052
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
NRL PL158
Purpose
Radar calibration
Mission
Radar calibration
Manufacturer
Naval Research Laboratory
Life Expectancy
Passive
Bus
NRL 14
Configuration
Sphere
Motor
None
Equipment
None
Power System
None
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Highlights of the day include the Polaris Dawn mission's splashdown, advances in space traffic management, and intriguing astronomy insights from the cloud's edge.
Today's highlights include Rocket Lab's progress on the Space Force's VICTUS HAZE mission, BlackSky's new government contract, and AEI's policy recommendations for Space Force restructuring.
Today's space brief covers SpaceX's latest Starlink missions, Satellogic's contract with Brazilian Air Force, OCX, and ATLAS project updates, and DARPA's insights on cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
SpaceX gears up for the Transporter 14 rideshare mission, while recent Starship setbacks have not deterred plans for Falcon 9 launches.
An analysis of Russia's independent space tracking system and how it compares to the established U.S. Space Surveillance Network
On 21 June 2004, a 63-year-old test pilot rode a homebuilt rocket plane to 100,124 meters above the Mojave Desert, clearing the edge of space by about the length of a city block. He came down the first private astronaut in history, holding a sign that read 'SpaceShipOne, GovernmentZero.'
Sixty-four years ago, NASA made a decision that would shape the future of human spaceflight by selecting three astronauts to compete for America's first journey into space
As the International Space Station nears retirement, private companies are stepping up to fill the void with their own space stations. Discover the key players and the potential impact on space exploration.