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SpaceX prepares for Starship Flight 8 with successful booster static fire; Starlink continues its expansion.
DASH & VEP 3 (27368)
COSPAR: 2002-003B | Alt Name: VEP-3
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
February 4, 2002
Launch Site
TANSC
Launch Pad
Y
Launch Vehicle
H-IIA 2024
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
27368
International Designator
2002-003B
Epoch
Wed, 01 Jul 2026 08:19:01 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
28.64°
Right Ascension
244.03°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
316.14°
Period
607.27 min
Mean Motion
2.37 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
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Velocity
Calculating...
Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
DASH & VEP 3
Alternative Name
VEP-3
Type
Payload
Status
Unknown
Owner
NASDA
Country
Japan
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 27368U 02003B 26182.34654635 .00000134 00000-0 75624-3 0 9991
2 27368 28.6416 244.0274 7119894 316.1385 5.8104 2.37128754206368
Source: Celestrak
Summary
The DASH & VEP 3 satellite, also known as VEP-3, was launched on February 4, 2002, from Tanegashima Space Center (TANSC) using the H-IIA 2024 launch vehicle. It is a Japanese satellite (country code J), configured as an orbiter with capsule and spin-stabilized design. The satellite measures 6.1 meters in length, has a diameter of 4 meters, and spans 6.1 meters. It was manufactured by NASDA with a dry mass of 330 kg and equipped with batteries for power supply. Its primary mission is to study reentry technology, utilizing a VEP-3/Upper Adapter payload. The satellite's shape consists of a cylinder combined with a cone.
Physical Characteristics
Length
6.1
Diameter
4
Span
6.1
Dry Mass
330
Launch Mass
330
Shape
Cyl + Cone
Radar Cross Section
12.1718
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
VEP-3/Upper Adapter
Purpose
Reentry technology
Mission
Reentry technology
Manufacturer
NASDA
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
VEP
Configuration
orbiter with capsule, spin stabilized
Motor
DOM solid motor, 2 x DFM solid motors
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
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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