Rocket Lab to Acquire Iridium for $8B, X Report 30 Jun 2026
Rocket Lab will acquire Iridium for $8B to challenge SpaceX, whose Starlink constellation holds 10,706 working satellites of 12,390 launched.
THOR III (25358)
COSPAR: 1998-035A | Alt Name: Thor III
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
June 10, 1998
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC17A
Launch Vehicle
Delta 7925-9.5
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
25358
International Designator
1998-035A
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 23:56:41 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
11.83°
Right Ascension
38.87°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
181.45°
Period
1457.05 min
Mean Motion
0.99 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
THOR III
Alternative Name
Thor III
Type
Payload
Status
Non-operational
Owner
TNOR
Country
Norway
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 25358U 98035A 26184.99770472 -.00000175 00000-0 00000-0 0 9998
2 25358 11.8281 38.8693 0003371 181.4533 7.1061 0.98829581102651
Source: Celestrak
Summary
THOR III, also known as Thor III, is a communication satellite launched on June 10, 1998, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 17A using the Delta 7925-9.5 launch vehicle. The spacecraft has dimensions of 7.8 meters in length and diameter with a span of 7.8 meters, and it weighs 650 kg dry. It was manufactured by HSES for TNOR (Telenor) and is equipped with solar cells and batteries to power the satellite's operations. THOR III carries a payload named Thor 3 consisting of 15 (+3) Ku-band transponders (#2); 14 Ku-band transponders (#3). The satellite was designed to operate for approximately 11 years and has an RCS (Reflective Coefficient Surface) value of 22.4645, indicating its reflective properties in space.
Physical Characteristics
Length
7.8
Diameter
2.2
Span
7.8
Dry Mass
650
Launch Mass
821
Shape
Cyl
Radar Cross Section
22.4645
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Thor 3
Purpose
Communication
Mission
Communication
Manufacturer
HSES
Life Expectancy
11 years
Bus
HS-376HP
Configuration
HS-376HP
Motor
Star 30
Equipment
15 (+3) Ku-band transponders (#2); 14 Ku-band transponders (#3)
Power System
Solar cells (body mounted and drop-skirt), 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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