X Report 2 Apr 2025
SpaceX's Fram2 mission marks a historic first in polar orbit travel, while DARPA unexpectedly detects Falcon 9 reentry using atmospheric listening.
Launch Date
April 2, 1999
Launch Site
FRGUI
Launch Pad
ELA2
Launch Vehicle
Ariane 42P
NORAD ID
25666
International Designator
1999-016A
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 22:22:58 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
11.38°
Right Ascension
40.16°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
300.91°
Period
1444.90 min
Mean Motion
1.00 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Name
INSAT-2E (APR-1)
Alternative Name
Insat 2E
Type
Status
Owner
ISRO
Country
India
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 25666U 99016A 26184.93262213 -.00000235 00000-0 00000-0 0 9990
2 25666 11.3810 40.1570 0008977 300.9083 254.8110 0.99661175 51609
Source: Celestrak
Length
2.3
Diameter
1.9
Span
24.7
Dry Mass
1146
Launch Mass
2550
Shape
Box + Pan + Ant
Radar Cross Section
6.3803
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Insat 2E
Purpose
Communication / Meteorology
Mission
Communication / Meteorology
Manufacturer
ISRO
Life Expectancy
12 years
Bus
I2K
Configuration
Insat-2/-3 Bus
Motor
LAM
Equipment
12 C-band transponders, 5 ext. C-band transponders, 1 Data relay transponder, 1 SAR transponder, VHRR
Power System
Deployable solar array, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
SpaceX's Fram2 mission marks a historic first in polar orbit travel, while DARPA unexpectedly detects Falcon 9 reentry using atmospheric listening.
Dive into the latest developments including U.S. national security launch contracts, penalties for drone violations at military bases, and emerging European launch providers.
On December 15, 1970, a battered Soviet probe accomplished something no spacecraft had done before - it survived landing on another world and lived to tell about it.
SpaceX launched Starlink batches from Vandenberg and Cape Canaveral within 48 hours, pushing the active constellation toward 10,000 operational satellites.
Today's focus: Sidus Space's new AI edge computer, Space Force's dynamic operations initiative, and key Pentagon acquisition reforms.
India's second spaceport solves a geometry problem. How ISRO is building a dedicated small satellite facility that eliminates the costly dogleg maneuvers plaguing polar launches from Sriharikota.
SpaceX's Falcon Heavy flew for the first time in 18 months on April 29, while Starlink hit 51 Falcon 9 launches in 2026 with 10,280 satellites working.
Today's briefing highlights major advancements in tactical satellite communications for military applications, the expansion of an IoT satellite constellation by China's Geespace, and significant developments in lunar communications and surveillance systems.