Space Brief 16 Nov 2025
Today's highlights include SpaceX's record-breaking Falcon 9 launches, Dream Chaser's testing success, and Blue Origin's latest New Glenn achievements.
Launch Date
April 15, 2006
Launch Site
AFWTR
Launch Pad
SLC8
Launch Vehicle
Minotaur I
NORAD ID
29049
International Designator
2006-011C
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:41:48 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
72.02°
Right Ascension
9.96°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
180.75°
Period
100.60 min
Mean Motion
14.31 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
FORMOSAT-3 FM5
Alternative Name
COSMIC 1-5
Type
Status
Owner
NSPO
Country
Taiwan
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 29049U 06011C 26184.77903729 .00000459 00000-0 18755-3 0 9994
2 29049 72.0188 9.9614 0033861 180.7521 179.3573 14.31417089 55043
Source: Celestrak
Length
0.2
Diameter
1
Span
4.3
Dry Mass
56
Launch Mass
62
Shape
Cyl + 2 Pan
Radar Cross Section
0.5725
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
FORMOSAT 3 FM5
Purpose
Earth observation
Mission
Earth observation
Manufacturer
OSCD
Life Expectancy
5 years (design); 14 years (achieved)
Bus
Microstar
Configuration
MicroStar
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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