WESTFORD NEEDLES (19051)

COSPAR: 1963-014EA | Alt Name: West Ford cluster

Image
WESTFORD NEEDLES Satellite Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details

Launch Date

May 9, 1963

Launch Site

AFWTR

Launch Pad

LC1-2

Launch Vehicle

Atlas Agena B

Orbital Elements

NORAD ID

19051

International Designator

1963-014EA

Epoch

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 21:05:00 GMT

Apogee

Calculating...

Perigee

Calculating...

Inclination

87.38°

Right Ascension

150.94°

Eccentricity

Calculating...

Argument of Perigee

218.84°

Period

166.13 min

Mean Motion

8.67 rev/day

Latitude

Calculating...

Longitude

Calculating...

Altitude

Calculating...

Velocity

Calculating...

Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info

Name

WESTFORD NEEDLES

Alternative Name

West Ford cluster

Type

Debris

Status

Space Junk

Owner

AFSSD

Country

United States

Constellation

N/A

Related Satellites

Major Events

N/A

Latest TLEs
1 19051U 63014EA  26183.87847435 -.00000109  00000-0 -50969-1 0  9998
2 19051  87.3793 150.9353 0169928 218.8368 140.0171  8.66795426444708

Source: Celestrak

Summary
Space debris, also known as space junk, encompasses all non-functional objects orbiting Earth such as defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and fragments from collisions or disintegrations. Over time, this debris can accumulate and create an increasingly hazardous environment in orbit. Even tiny fragments, traveling at extremely high velocities, can inflict significant damage on operational satellites and spacecraft. If left unmanaged, the density of debris raises the risk of catastrophic collisions and further fragmentation, compounding the problem and threatening the safety and sustainability of space activities.
Physical Characteristics

Length

0

Diameter

0

Span

0

Dry Mass

0

Launch Mass

0

Shape

N/A

Radar Cross Section

0.3681

Visual Magnitude

Unknown

Color

Unknown

Material Composition

Unknown

Technical Details

Payload

RCS 0.31

Purpose

Unknown

Mission

Unknown

Manufacturer

Unknown

Life Expectancy

Unknown

Bus

Unknown

Configuration

Unknown

Motor

Unknown

Equipment

Unknown

Power System

Unknown

ADCS

Unknown

Transmitter Frequency

Unknown

Map
This tool will help you track the satellite's position and predict its upcoming passes over your location. Simply input the coordinates or click the geolocation button to get started.
Next Pass
Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)
Start Azimuth
Max Elevation
Stop Azimuth
Time Until
Pass Duration

Satellite Articles

View All Posts »

Learn more about satellites and other related topics.

The Day a Farm Boy Found a New World

The Day a Farm Boy Found a New World

Ninety-five years ago, a 24-year-old astronomer with no college degree made one of astronomy's most remarkable discoveries, finding a new planet that would challenge our understanding of the solar system

SpaceX Preps Starlink 6-96 Launch, Starship TPS Testing Continues at Starbase | KeepTrack X Report

SpaceX Preps Starlink 6-96 Launch, Starship TPS Testing Continues at Starbase | KeepTrack X Report

SpaceX readies Starlink 6-96 launch of 29 satellites from Cape Canaveral. Thermal Protection System evaluations underway at Starbase for next Starship prototypes. SpaceX IPO expected to reshape market.

Starlink V2 Flies on Starship in 2027, X Report 4 Mar 2026

Starlink V2 Flies on Starship in 2027, X Report 4 Mar 2026

Gwynne Shotwell confirms Starlink V2 launches on Starship in 2027. Ship 39 preps Starship Flight 12; Falcon 9 lofts its 600th Starlink of 2026.

The Day Humanity Broke Its Last Tether to Earth

The Day Humanity Broke Its Last Tether to Earth

Forty-one years ago, astronaut Bruce McCandless II became the first human to float completely free in space, pushing the boundaries of both technology and human courage

Space Brief 25 May 2025

Space Brief 25 May 2025

Today's brief covers crucial developments in satellite technology and operations, including new Starlink launches, groundbreaking satellite data on flood waves, and pivotal changes in South African telecom policy driven by Starlink.

X Report 24 Aug 2025

X Report 24 Aug 2025

SpaceX successfully launched its CRS-33 Dragon cargo mission to the ISS, while preparations for the upcoming Starship Flight 10 continue, highlighting significant advancements in both cargo operations and test flight reliability.

The Day Two Satellites Hit Each Other at 26,000 MPH

The Day Two Satellites Hit Each Other at 26,000 MPH

On February 10, 2009, an active Iridium communications satellite and a derelict Soviet military spacecraft slammed into each other 789 kilometers above Siberia. The collision produced more than 2,300 pieces of trackable debris that are still up there. Seventeen years later, the Iridium-Cosmos collision remains the event that made space debris a policy problem the world could no longer ignore.

Space Brief 15 Sep 2025

Space Brief 15 Sep 2025

Discover the latest in satellite tracking with key topics covering the launch of Tranche 1 satellites for the Space Development Agency, a record-setting Transporter-15 mission by Exolaunch, and new defense-focused satellite connectivity solutions by Satlink and Rivada.