Space Brief 31 Oct 2025
Today we explore defense-driven shifts in satellite operations amid geopolitical tensions and innovative projects pushing the boundaries of space technology.
Launch Date
July 8, 1992
Launch Site
PLMSC
Launch Pad
LC43/3
Launch Vehicle
Molniya 8K78M-PVB
NORAD ID
22017
International Designator
1992-040A
Decay Date
9/27/2016
Name
COSMOS 2196
Alternative Name
Kosmos-2196
Type
Status
Owner
PVO
Country
Russia
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Length
4
Diameter
2
Span
5
Dry Mass
1150
Launch Mass
1250
Shape
Cyl + 2 Pan
Radar Cross Section
11.6786
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Oko 73D6 No. 6057
Purpose
Early warning
Mission
Early warning
Manufacturer
NPOL/KOMET
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Oko
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
2 deployable fixed solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Today we explore defense-driven shifts in satellite operations amid geopolitical tensions and innovative projects pushing the boundaries of space technology.
Starship developments continue to capture attention alongside Starlink's latest deployment milestones.
SpaceX secured a $178.5M Space Force contract to launch missile-tracking satellites from 2027, backing the Missile Track Custody threat-tracking layer.
STARLINK-34343 broke apart at 560 kilometers. SpaceX's response - launch more satellites the next morning - tells you everything about the confidence gap between fleet statistics and individual failure modes.
For nearly two decades, the U.S. Air Force and Space Force have been the world's unofficial civilian space traffic control system. The Department of Commerce's Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) is now taking over that job for commercial satellite operators - in stages, against persistent congressional pressure to kill the program, and with Department of Defense advocates pushing to make it happen before it is too late.
Today's brief covers China's latest classified satellite launch, breakups in orbital refueling experiments, exciting advancements in microsatellites, and SpaceX's remarkable strides in spaceflight.
SpaceX successfully launches NASA missions, prepares for Crew-10 flight, and overcomes Falcon 9 launch anomalies.
The laser-based crosslinks that turn Starlink into a mesh, anchor the SDA Transport Layer, and just made their GPS debut on GPS III SV10 - quietly rewriting how data moves through space.