Space Brief 15 Aug 2025
Discover the latest in space news with the ULA's recent launch for the US Space Force, significant developments in radar tracking at high altitudes, and impactful policy changes involving military space missions.
PEGASUS DEB (23976)
COSPAR: 1994-029W | Alt Name: deb HAPS
DECAYED
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
May 19, 1994
Launch Site
AFWTR
Launch Pad
RW04/22
Launch Vehicle
Pegasus/HAPS
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
23976
International Designator
1994-029W
Decay Date
2/1/2001
Basic Satellite Info
Name
PEGASUS DEB
Alternative Name
deb HAPS
Type
Debris
Status
Space Junk
Owner
OSCC
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
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
0.061
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Unknown
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
Satellite Articles
View All Posts »Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Falcon 9 Lofts 5-Ton Cygnus XL to ISS | KeepTrack X Report
SpaceX's Falcon 9 delivered Northrop Grumman's second Cygnus XL — carrying over 5 tons of cargo — to the ISS on April 11, 2026.
Space Brief 6 Dec 2024
Today's brief covers various military applications of climate-monitoring satellites, new defense strategies against unmanned threats, and the potential impacts of geopolitical tensions on orbit.
Falcon Heavy Returns | A Six-Ton Bet on Geostationary Broadband
Falcon Heavy flew for the first time in eighteen months on April 29, 2026, expending its center core to push Viasat's final ViaSat-3 satellite toward geostationary orbit. The mission is a flagship rocket doing what only it can still do, for an operator betting six tons of high-throughput hardware on a market Starlink is rapidly redefining.
Musk Addresses Orbital Data Center Crowding Fears | KeepTrack X Report
Elon Musk pushed back on orbital crowding concerns as SpaceX eyes data centers in space, with 10,584 Starlink satellites currently operational.
X Report 7 Sep 2025
SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites, pushing its 2025 total beyond 2,000, while facing community pushback in Florida for its Starship operations.
Starship V3 Debut Slips as Booster 19 Rolls to Pad 2 | KeepTrack X Report
Starship V3's maiden flight is delayed as SpaceX rolls Booster 19 to Pad 2 for Flight 9, while Falcon 9 completes its 30th mission of 2026.
Space Force Eyes 1,000 Launches by 2031, New Site Required | KeepTrack Space Brief
Space Force projects ~1,000 launches between FY2027–FY2031, averaging 200 annually. DAF study concludes new launch site is "probably" required to absorb cadence.