Space Brief 4 Mar 2025
Today's brief covers the historic lunar touchdown by Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander, highlights in military space activity, and a reflection on Pearl Young's pioneering legacy at NASA.
GEOSAT (15595)
COSPAR: 1985-021A | Alt Name: Geosat 1
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
March 13, 1985
Launch Site
AFWTR
Launch Pad
SLC3W
Launch Vehicle
Atlas E/OIS
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
15595
International Designator
1985-021A
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 05:43:38 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
108.04°
Right Ascension
116.93°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
295.05°
Period
100.00 min
Mean Motion
14.40 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
GEOSAT
Alternative Name
Geosat 1
Type
Payload
Status
Unknown
Owner
NAVAIR
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 15595U 85021A 26185.23864478 .00000202 00000-0 10720-3 0 9992
2 15595 108.0411 116.9296 0001585 295.0493 65.0485 14.39974926165225
Source: Celestrak
Summary
The GEOSAT (Geosat 1) satellite was launched on March 13, 1985, from AFWTR SLC3W using an Atlas E/OIS launch vehicle by NAVAIR for altimetry missions. The spacecraft has a shape of octagonal cylinder with eight panels and antennas, measuring 1.2 meters in length, 1.1 meters in diameter, and spans up to 7 meters when solar arrays are deployed. It weighs 598 kg dry and was originally designed for a three-year mission but achieved five years of operation. The satellite is powered by eight deployable fixed solar arrays and batteries. GEOSAT was manufactured by the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in the United States.
Physical Characteristics
Length
1.2
Diameter
1.1
Span
7
Dry Mass
598
Launch Mass
636
Shape
Oct Cyl + 8 Pan + Ant
Radar Cross Section
9.0239
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Geosat
Purpose
Altimetry
Mission
Altimetry
Manufacturer
APL
Life Expectancy
3 years (design); 5 years (achieved)
Bus
Geosat
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
VCS
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
8 deployable fixed solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Map
Next Pass
Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)
Start Azimuth
Max Elevation
Stop Azimuth
Time Until
Pass Duration
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