The Day America's Moon Rocket Began Its Journey
Fifty-nine years ago, a revolutionary new rocket thundered skyward from Cape Kennedy, testing the spacecraft that would eventually carry astronauts to the lunar surface
H-2A DEB (27520)
COSPAR: 2002-042F | Alt Name: 4/4D-LC Lower Fairing Half
DECAYED
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
September 10, 2002
Launch Site
TANSC
Launch Pad
Y
Launch Vehicle
H-IIA 2024
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
27520
International Designator
2002-042F
Decay Date
11/12/2002
Basic Satellite Info
Name
H-2A DEB
Alternative Name
4/4D-LC Lower Fairing Half
Type
Debris
Status
Space Junk
Owner
NASDA
Country
Japan
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Summary
Space debris, also known as space junk, encompasses all non-functional objects orbiting Earth such as defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and fragments from collisions or disintegrations. Over time, this debris can accumulate and create an increasingly hazardous environment in orbit. Even tiny fragments, traveling at extremely high velocities, can inflict significant damage on operational satellites and spacecraft. If left unmanaged, the density of debris raises the risk of catastrophic collisions and further fragmentation, compounding the problem and threatening the safety and sustainability of space activities.
Physical Characteristics
Length
4
Diameter
4
Span
4
Dry Mass
200
Launch Mass
200
Shape
Half Cyl
Radar Cross Section
0.7943
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Fairing Half
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
MHITO
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Unknown
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Satellite Articles
View All Posts »Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
SpaceX Eyes Confidential IPO Filing at $1.75T Valuation | KeepTrack X Report
Reports suggest SpaceX considering confidential IPO filing this March at $1.75T+ valuation. Starship may not fly on NASA's revamped Artemis 3 mission. 25 Starlink sats launched.
NASA Expands SpaceX Crew Contract as Boeing Stalls | KeepTrack X Report
NASA adds crew missions to SpaceX's contract as Boeing Starliner certification stalls, while Falcon 9 hits its 60th orbital launch of 2026.
GPS III SV10 | The Last of Its Kind, and the First of What Comes Next
On April 21, 2026, the tenth and final GPS Block III satellite reached medium Earth orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. Named for Hedy Lamarr, the actress whose 1942 frequency-hopping patent underpins modern GPS, SV10 closes a procurement that took eight years to deliver hardware and opens the optical-crosslink era that will define the constellation's next decade.
X Report 6 Dec 2025
SpaceX secures environmental approval for Starship launches at SLC-37 while Castelion, a company founded by SpaceX veterans, raises $350 million for hypersonic missile production.
Space Brief 4 Dec 2025
Today's brief covers SpaceX's Starship launch approval, Antares' nuclear funding, and shifts in global space defense strategies.
The Day Apollo 14 Restored NASA's Lunar Dreams
Fifty-four years ago, a Saturn V rocket lifted off carrying three astronauts determined to prove America could still reach the Moon after the near-disaster of Apollo 13
Space Brief 28 May 2025
Today's briefing covers SpaceX's ambitious launch and temporary setback with their Super Heavy booster, adjustments in South African telecommunications laws influenced by Starlink, and the U.S. Navy's strategic shifts amidst changes in unmanned combatant acquisitions.