Space Brief 23 Dec 2025
Today's briefing covers the Long March 12A's first launch, a major advance in space radio communication, and highlights from key military developments impacting space operations.
Launch Date
May 11, 1993
Launch Site
PLMSC
Launch Pad
LC32/1
Launch Vehicle
Tsiklon-3
NORAD ID
22652
International Designator
1993-030G
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 03:05:11 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
82.59°
Right Ascension
313.36°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
256.89°
Period
114.00 min
Mean Motion
12.63 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Name
SL-14 R/B
Alternative Name
Tsiklon-3 13-031 Stage 3
Type
Status
Owner
VKS
Country
Russia
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 22652U 93030G 26185.12860769 .00000047 00000-0 19881-3 0 9994
2 22652 82.5893 313.3583 0006607 256.8925 276.4697 12.63200634528177
Source: Celestrak
Length
2.8
Diameter
2.2
Span
2.8
Dry Mass
1600
Launch Mass
1600
Shape
Cyl
Radar Cross Section
0.9138
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
S5M
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
YUZHUA
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
S5M
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Today's briefing covers the Long March 12A's first launch, a major advance in space radio communication, and highlights from key military developments impacting space operations.
Starlink satellite count for April 2026: 10,177 in orbit, 10,168 working from 11,724 launched. No new anomalies, four reentries expected Apr 5-7.
Today's brief highlights significant developments in space defense, innovation fund challenges, and international defense agreements impacting satellite utilities.
On May 4, 1989, Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off from LC-39B carrying Magellan, NASA's first interplanetary mission since 1978. The eleven-year drought ended in a payload bay, and the radar that emerged would map ninety-eight percent of Venus through clouds that no camera could ever see through.
The final satellite in a multi-billion-dollar program that learned its hardest lesson from a clogged pipe. GOES-19 is now NOAA's eyes on every Atlantic hurricane - and it's already found dozens of comets no one was looking for.
SpaceX readies Starlink 17-20 launch of 25 satellites to polar orbit from Vandenberg pad 4E — seventh Starlink mission of the year. 11,009 total Starlink satellites launched to date.
Today focuses on Blue Origin's preparation for New Glenn's debut, SpaceX Crew-9's ISS maneuver, the importance of U.S.-China cooperation in space, and breathtaking ISS photography.
Key updates include a successful Falcon 9 launch of 28 Starlink satellites and a static fire test of the Starship spacecraft, while T-Mobile's Starlink service aims to attract new customers.