SYRACUSE 3A (28885)

COSPAR: 2005-041B | Alt Name: Syracuse 3A

Image

Additional Sources

Launch Details

Launch Date

October 13, 2005

Launch Site

FRGUI

Launch Pad

ELA3

Launch Vehicle

Ariane 5GS

Orbital Elements

NORAD ID

28885

International Designator

2005-041B

Epoch

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 03:00:38 GMT

Apogee

Calculating...

Perigee

Calculating...

Inclination

4.68°

Right Ascension

75.63°

Eccentricity

Calculating...

Argument of Perigee

17.22°

Period

1436.13 min

Mean Motion

1.00 rev/day

Latitude

Calculating...

Longitude

Calculating...

Altitude

Calculating...

Velocity

Calculating...

Polar Plot

3D Visualization

Basic Satellite Info

Name

SYRACUSE 3A

Alternative Name

Syracuse 3A

Type

Payload

Status

Operational

Owner

DGA

Country

France

Constellation

N/A

Related Satellites

Major Events

N/A

Latest TLEs

1 28885U 05041B   26185.12544655  .00000139  00000-0  00000-0 0  9998

2 28885   4.6845  75.6297 0002737  17.2174 281.0971  1.00269188 75912

Source: Celestrak

Summary

SYRACUSE 3A, also known as Syracuse 3A, is a military communication satellite manufactured by ALCAF and owned by DGA (Direction Générale de l'Armement). Launched on October 13, 2005, from ELA3 launch pad at the French Guiana space center using an Ariane 5GS launch vehicle, it weighs 3725 kg at launch. The satellite has a dry mass of 1644 kg and is equipped with SHF and EHF transponders for communication purposes. It features two deployable solar arrays and batteries for power generation. SYRACUSE 3A's design includes a Spacebus-4000B3 configuration, measuring 3.9 meters in length, 2.3 meters in diameter, and has a span of 30 meters due to its solar panels. The satellite is shaped like a box with two pan structures and has an RCS (Radiometric Cross Section) value of 23.5772.

Physical Characteristics

Length

3.9

Diameter

2.3

Span

Dry Mass

1644

Launch Mass

3725

Shape

Box + 2 Pan

Radar Cross Section

23.5772

Visual Magnitude

Unknown

Color

Unknown

Material Composition

Unknown

Technical Details

Payload

Syracuse 3A

Purpose

Military communication

Mission

Military communication

Manufacturer

ALCAF

Life Expectancy

Unknown

Bus

Spacebus 4000B3

Configuration

Spacebus-4000B3

Motor

S400

Equipment

SHF and EHF transponders

Power System

2 deployable solar arrays, batteries

ADCS

Unknown

Transmitter Frequency

Unknown

Map

This tool will help you track the satellite's position and predict its upcoming passes over your location. Simply input the coordinates or click the geolocation button to get started.

Latitude

Longitude

Next Pass

Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)

Start Azimuth

Max Elevation

Stop Azimuth

Time Until

Pass Duration

Satellite Articles

View All Posts »

Learn more about satellites and other related topics.

The Day We Banned the Word "Film"

On January 20, 1972, the second KH-9 HEXAGON lifted off from Vandenberg - carrying the most sophisticated reconnaissance system ever built by engineers who weren't allowed to say 'film,' 'camera,' or even talk to each other about what they were doing.

Space Brief 18 Feb 2025

Today's briefs cover SpaceX landing a Falcon 9 in The Bahamas, first disabled astronaut prepped for a mission, and key company updates from Blue Origin and K2 Space.

The 300,000 Swerves Keeping Low Earth Orbit From Crashing

Starlink satellites fired their thrusters to dodge a collision roughly 300,000 times in 2025, about 822 times a day. Behind that number is a fragile, half-automated system of warnings, probabilities, and judgment calls that decides which close approaches are worth a maneuver and which are just noise.

X Report 11 Jan 2025

Starship Flight 7 scheduled for Jan 13, SpaceX sets Falcon 9 record, and NRO expands spy satellite constellation.

Artemis 2 Crew Returns After 50-Year Lunar Milestone | KeepTrack Space Brief

Artemis 2 splashdown marks first crewed lunar flyby since Apollo 17 in 1972. Four astronauts completed historic mission, validating systems for Artemis 3 landing attempt.

X Report 8 Oct 2025

SpaceX successfully launched 28 Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, marking significant advancements in their deployment and operational capabilities.

SpaceX Falcon 9 Grounded After Rare Launch Failure

The FAA grounds SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket after a launch mishap, potentially impacting NASA's crewed missions and disrupting SpaceX's ambitious launch schedule.

Blue Origin Rebuilds New Glenn Launch Pad, Space Brief 19 Jun 2026

Blue Origin launch pad rebuild begins at Cape Canaveral after the New Glenn explosion, targeting return to flight by end of 2026. SpaceX flies NROL-179.