Space Brief 11 Mar 2025
Today's Space Brief highlights pivotal defense budget evaluations, Lithuania's growing defense connections, the first CubeSat for ESA's Ramses mission, and the one-year milestone of the Aries satellite in orbit.
ORBCOMM FM02 (23546)
COSPAR: 1995-017B | Alt Name: Orbcomm F2
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
April 3, 1995
Launch Site
WRAS
Launch Pad
RW30/12
Launch Vehicle
Pegasus H
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
23546
International Designator
1995-017B
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 01:04:00 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
69.96°
Right Ascension
214.28°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
116.55°
Period
96.09 min
Mean Motion
14.99 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
ORBCOMM FM02
Alternative Name
Orbcomm F2
Type
Payload
Status
Non-operational
Owner
ORBC
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 23546U 95017B 26185.04445091 .00008152 00000-0 68523-3 0 9994
2 23546 69.9598 214.2840 0001864 116.5451 243.5899 14.98616138669223
Source: Celestrak
Summary
ORBCOMM FM02, also known as Orbcomm F2, is a communication satellite designed for Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) applications launched on April 3, 1995, from Vandenberg Air Force Base using the Pegasus H launch vehicle. The spacecraft measures 0.2 meters in length, has a diameter of 1 meter, and spans 4.3 meters with its solar arrays deployed. It weighs 42 kilograms at launch and in dry mass. Equipped with an Orbcomm payload for communication services, ORBCOMM FM02 uses two deployable solar arrays and batteries to provide power. Manufactured by OSCG, the satellite was operated by ORBC and had a mission lifetime of approximately four years.
Physical Characteristics
Length
0.2
Diameter
1
Span
4.3
Dry Mass
42
Launch Mass
42
Shape
Cyl + 2 Pan + Ant
Radar Cross Section
0.8443
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Orbcomm FM2
Purpose
Communication M2M/IoT
Mission
Communication M2M/IoT
Manufacturer
OSCG
Life Expectancy
4 years
Bus
Microstar
Configuration
MicroStar
Motor
?
Equipment
Orbcomm payload
Power System
2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Map
Next Pass
Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)
Start Azimuth
Max Elevation
Stop Azimuth
Time Until
Pass Duration
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