The Day Japan Joined the Geostationary Club
Forty-eight years ago, a pioneering satellite named Kiku 2 propelled Japan into the exclusive group of nations capable of operating satellites in geostationary orbit
Launch Date
December 4, 1999
Launch Site
ERAS
Launch Pad
RW22
Launch Vehicle
Pegasus XL/HAPS
NORAD ID
25980
International Designator
1999-065A
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:05:41 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
45.03°
Right Ascension
82.28°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
110.17°
Period
100.13 min
Mean Motion
14.38 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
ORBCOMM FM30
Alternative Name
Orbcomm D2
Type
Status
Owner
ORBC
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 25980U 99065A 26184.75395707 .00000902 00000-0 34102-3 0 9991
2 25980 45.0313 82.2773 0005655 110.1698 249.9759 14.38179049389368
Source: Celestrak
Length
0.2
Diameter
1
Span
4.3
Dry Mass
44
Launch Mass
44
Shape
Cyl + 2 Pan + Ant
Radar Cross Section
0.5856
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Orbcomm FM30
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
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Forty-eight years ago, a pioneering satellite named Kiku 2 propelled Japan into the exclusive group of nations capable of operating satellites in geostationary orbit
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