$4.16B Space Force Contract Goes to SpaceX, X Report 30 May 2026
SpaceX wins a $4.16B US Space Force contract for an airborne threat tracking satellite network. Starlink holds 10,413 satellites in orbit, 10,397 working.
Launch Date
November 15, 1986
Launch Site
PLMSC
Launch Pad
LC41/1
Launch Vehicle
Molniya 8K78M
NORAD ID
17078
International Designator
1986-089A
Epoch
Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:50:39 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
63.50°
Right Ascension
20.14°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
252.82°
Period
716.75 min
Mean Motion
2.01 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
MOLNIYA 1-69
Alternative Name
Molniya-1
Type
Status
Owner
UNKS
Country
USSR
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 17078U 86089A 26106.66017765 -.00001812 00000-0 -44311-2 0 9996
2 17078 63.4974 20.1387 7348471 252.8245 21.0226 2.00905937288906
Source: Celestrak
Length
4.4
Diameter
1.4
Span
8.6
Dry Mass
1620
Launch Mass
1650
Shape
Cyl + 6 Pan
Radar Cross Section
15.4723
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Molniya-1T No. 77L
Purpose
Communication
Mission
Communication
Manufacturer
NPOPM
Life Expectancy
3 years
Bus
Molniya-1
Configuration
KAUR-2
Motor
KDU-414A (S5.114)
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
6 deployable solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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