STARSHINE (25769)

COSPAR: 1999-030B | Alt Name: Starshine
DECAYED

Image
STARSHINE Satellite Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details

Launch Date

May 27, 1999

Launch Pad

LC39B

Launch Vehicle

Space Shuttle

Orbital Elements

NORAD ID

25769

International Designator

1999-030B

Decay Date

2/18/2000

Basic Satellite Info

Name

STARSHINE

Alternative Name

Starshine

Type

Payload

Status

Decayed

Owner

GSFC

Country

United States

Constellation

N/A

Related Satellites

Major Events

N/A

Summary
The STARSHINE satellite, also known as Starshine, has the NORAD catalog ID 25769 and was launched by NASA on May 27, 1999, from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center aboard a Space Shuttle. The spacecraft is a sphere with dimensions of 0.5 meters in length, diameter, and span, and it has a dry mass and launch mass of 40 kilograms each. It was manufactured by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) for the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). Its primary mission is to conduct research on atmospheric density. The satellite reached its stable orbit on June 5, 1999, and has a radar cross-section of 0.2973 square meters. It does not have any motor or power systems onboard.
Physical Characteristics

Length

0.5

Diameter

0.5

Span

0.5

Dry Mass

40

Launch Mass

40

Shape

Sphere

Radar Cross Section

0.2973

Visual Magnitude

Unknown

Color

Unknown

Material Composition

Unknown

Technical Details

Payload

Starshine

Purpose

Research (Atmospheric density)

Mission

Research (Atmospheric density)

Manufacturer

Naval Research Laboratory

Life Expectancy

Unknown

Bus

Starshine

Configuration

Unknown

Motor

None

Equipment

Unknown

Power System

None

ADCS

Unknown

Transmitter Frequency

Unknown

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