Lagrange Points
Five spots in the Earth-Sun system where the gravitational tug of two massive bodies and the pull of circular motion all cancel out, creating gravitational parking spaces where spacecraft can sit for decades with almost no fuel.
Launch Date
March 30, 1988
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC1
Launch Vehicle
Soyuz-U
NORAD ID
19016
International Designator
1988-027B
Decay Date
4/2/1988
Name
SL-4 R/B
Alternative Name
Soyuz-U 15-365 Blok-I
Type
Status
Owner
RVSN
Country
USSR
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Length
6.7
Diameter
2.7
Span
6.7
Dry Mass
2350
Launch Mass
2350
Shape
Cyl
Radar Cross Section
32.42
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
11S510
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
PROG
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Blok-I
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Five spots in the Earth-Sun system where the gravitational tug of two massive bodies and the pull of circular motion all cancel out, creating gravitational parking spaces where spacecraft can sit for decades with almost no fuel.
Today's highlights include China's remote-sensing satellite launch, U.S. Space Force's investment in missile-tracking satellites, and NASA's MAVEN milestone on Mars.
Twenty years ago, an Atlas rocket carrying a classified payload lifted off from Cape Canaveral, marking the end of a revolutionary spacecraft design that helped launch America into the Space Age
Elon Musk moves to make himself unfireable at SpaceX as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon back a rival D2D joint venture challenging Starlink Mobile.
Starship V3 timeline: Musk puts Flight 12 about 4 weeks out, early to mid April 2026. SpaceX also hit 30 missions of 2026 with the 15,000-lb EchoStar 25.
China formalized a national VLEO industry alliance with multiple satellites sustaining operations below 300 kilometers altitude. Propulsion startups attracting investment.
ESA's Proba-3 spacecraft lost contact last month following on-orbit anomaly. Mission requires both satellites in precise formation for solar corona science. Recovery status uncertain.
Today's brief covers a record-breaking Starlink launch, FCC's allocation of additional spectrum for launches, and more. Plus, explore the intricacies of satellite Rassvet-2 No. 1 in our Satellite Spotlight.