Space Brief 8 Dec 2025
Today's edition covers SpaceX scrubbing and successfully launching Starlink satellites, AI innovations in spacecraft propulsion, and the impact of SPHERE's debris disk survey in discovering hidden asteroid belts.
Launch Date
September 27, 2003
Launch Site
FRGUI
Launch Pad
ELA3
Launch Vehicle
Ariane 5G
NORAD ID
27951
International Designator
2003-043E
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 23:57:19 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
9.74°
Right Ascension
53.87°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
248.96°
Period
1428.55 min
Mean Motion
1.01 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Name
INSAT-3E
Alternative Name
Insat 3E
Type
Status
Owner
ISRO
Country
India
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 27951U 03043E 26184.99813807 -.00000249 00000-0 00000-0 0 9996
2 27951 9.7412 53.8684 0011900 248.9572 287.0318 1.00801410 53979
Source: Celestrak
Length
2.8
Diameter
1.8
Span
15.4
Dry Mass
1181
Launch Mass
2750
Shape
Box + Pan + Ant
Radar Cross Section
10
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Insat 3E
Purpose
Communication
Mission
Communication
Manufacturer
ISRO
Life Expectancy
15 years
Bus
I2K
Configuration
Insat-2/-3 Bus
Motor
ISRO LAM
Equipment
24 C-band transponders, 12 ext. C-band transponders
Power System
2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Today's edition covers SpaceX scrubbing and successfully launching Starlink satellites, AI innovations in spacecraft propulsion, and the impact of SPHERE's debris disk survey in discovering hidden asteroid belts.
Today's brief covers a historic milestone for China's space program, the decoding of a simulated alien signal, innovative solutions to address satellite air pollution, and industry shifts driven by major investments and contracts.
SpaceX's plans for the Transporter-15 mission are temporarily delayed as the Falcon 9 launch was scrubbed. The next launch attempt is now targeted for Friday, Nov. 28, with hopes of delivering 140 payloads into sun-synchronous orbit.
SpaceX gears up for its 11th Starship test flight, while Starlink expands connectivity through partnerships with T-Mobile, enhancing app functionality beyond cellular coverage.
SpaceX's Fram2 mission lands in the Pacific, SpaceX secures U.S. military contracts, and Starlink expands with latest satellite launch.
Cassini's Titan T-115 encounter marked the moment the spacecraft stopped looking down and started looking sideways, trading one type of science for another as it entered the final chapter of an iconic mission.
SpaceX makes strides on Starship launch pad, upcoming Starlink infusions from California and Florida, and regulatory challenges loom with FCC and C-band spectrum.
SpaceX is finalizing Pad 2 upgrades at Starbase ahead of Booster 19's return flight, as Starlink's active constellation holds at 10,185 satellites.