Space Brief 7 Mar 2025
Key insights from the latest SpaceX Starship breakup, the establishment of a new satellite mobile service, and enhancing America's missile shield capabilities through satellites.
Launch Date
March 17, 1988
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC31
Launch Vehicle
Vostok 8A92M
NORAD ID
18960
International Designator
1988-021A
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 03:59:12 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
98.85°
Right Ascension
239.23°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
158.04°
Period
103.07 min
Mean Motion
13.97 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
IRS-1A
Alternative Name
IRS-1A
Type
Status
Owner
ISRO
Country
India
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 18960U 88021A 26185.16611152 .00000145 00000-0 13358-3 0 9991
2 18960 98.8497 239.2287 0014610 158.0366 220.5480 13.97175445855549
Source: Celestrak
Length
1.6
Diameter
1.1
Span
12
Dry Mass
950
Launch Mass
975
Shape
Box + 2 Pan
Radar Cross Section
3.5011
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
IRS-1A
Purpose
Earth observation
Mission
Earth observation
Manufacturer
ISRO
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
IRS
Configuration
IRS-1 Bus
Motor
AOCS
Equipment
LISS-I, LISS-IIA/B
Power System
2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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