Space Force Cancels OCX GPS Ground System, Space Brief 21 Apr 2026
Space Force cancels the OCX GPS ground system after RTX failures and stands up a cislunar task force. SpaceX launches the 10th and final GPS III.
Launch Date
June 16, 2001
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC81/23
Launch Vehicle
Proton-K/DM-2M
NORAD ID
26853
International Designator
2001-025A
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 23:10:08 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
8.23°
Right Ascension
64.01°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
345.70°
Period
1453.95 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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Name
ASTRA 2C
Alternative Name
Astra 2C
Type
Status
Owner
SESGL
Country
Luxembourg
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 26853U 01025A 26184.96537446 -.00000277 00000-0 00000-0 0 9994
2 26853 8.2284 64.0147 0005023 345.6961 2.6505 0.99040833 45111
Source: Celestrak
Length
4
Diameter
5
Span
26
Dry Mass
2000
Launch Mass
3643
Shape
Box + 2 Pan
Radar Cross Section
4.4668
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Astra 2C
Purpose
Communication (Direct Broadcasting)
Mission
Communication (Direct Broadcasting)
Manufacturer
BOES
Life Expectancy
15 years
Bus
HS-601HP
Configuration
HS-601HP / BSS-601HP
Motor
R-4D-11-300
Equipment
32 Ku-band transponders (all), 2 Ka-band transponders (only #1H)
Power System
2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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Space Force cancels the OCX GPS ground system after RTX failures and stands up a cislunar task force. SpaceX launches the 10th and final GPS III.
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