NASA OIG Flags Starship Artemis Gaps as Falcon 9 Eyes 8-Launch Week | KeepTrack X Report
NASA's Inspector General warns of crew survival analysis gaps in Starship lunar lander program as Falcon 9 prepares to lead 8 global launches this week.
WILDBLUE-1 (29643)
COSPAR: 2006-054A | Alt Name: WildBlue 1
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
December 8, 2006
Launch Site
FRGUI
Launch Pad
ELA3
Launch Vehicle
Ariane 5ECA
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
29643
International Designator
2006-054A
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 04:20:17 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
2.84°
Right Ascension
80.28°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
18.14°
Period
1436.09 min
Mean Motion
1.00 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
WILDBLUE-1
Alternative Name
WildBlue 1
Type
Payload
Status
Operational
Owner
WBLU
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 29643U 06054A 26185.18075271 -.00000038 00000-0 00000-0 0 9994
2 29643 2.8441 80.2760 0001546 18.1372 137.6392 1.00272081 53961
Source: Celestrak
Summary
WILDBLUE-1, also known as WildBlue 1, is a communication satellite identified by NORAD CAT ID 29643 and OBJECT ID 2006-054A. Launched on December 8, 2006, from ELA3 at FRGUI using an Ariane 5ECA launch vehicle, it operates under ownership of WBLU with a mission lifespan of 15 years. The satellite is based on the SSL-1300 bus and configuration, manufactured by LOR in the US. It features Ka-Band payload (35 spotbeams) and its dimensions are: length of 5.5 meters, diameter of 2.4 meters, and span of 31.1 meters. The dry mass is 1995 kg with a launch mass of 4735 kg. Power comes from two deployable solar arrays and batteries. Its shape is described as Box + 2 Pan, with an RCS (Reflectivity Cross Section) value of 262.6219 square meters.
Physical Characteristics
Length
5.5
Diameter
2.4
Span
31.1
Dry Mass
1995
Launch Mass
4735
Shape
Box + 2 Pan
Radar Cross Section
262.6219
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
WildBlue 1
Purpose
Communication
Mission
Communication
Manufacturer
LOR
Life Expectancy
15 years
Bus
SSL-1300
Configuration
SSL-1300
Motor
R-4D-11-164
Equipment
Ka-Band payload (35 spotbeams)
Power System
2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Map
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.
How a Parachutist Named Seagull Became the First Woman in Space
On 16 June 1963, a 26-year-old former textile worker named Valentina Tereshkova launched aboard Vostok 6 and spent nearly three days alone in orbit. She flew 48 times around the Earth, longer than every American astronaut combined, and spotted a dangerous flaw in her descent program that ground controllers had missed.
Rheinmetall Weighs Bid for Mynaric Amid Rocket Lab Acquisition | KeepTrack Space Brief
German defense giant Rheinmetall may bid for laser-comm firm Mynaric, challenging Rocket Lab's plans. SpaceX sets Falcon 9 reuse record. Juno reveals Europa ice sheet data.
The Day a Giant Space Balloon United the Cold War
When a 135-foot inflatable mirror bounced a radio signal from England to Russia, it became the first joint US-Soviet space venture - and changed how we think about satellite communication.
Falcon 9 Lands in Bahamas for 2nd Time, Reentry Pollution Measured | KeepTrack X Report
SpaceX lands Falcon 9 in The Bahamas for the second time ever during Starlink 10-34 mission. Scientists measure rocket reentry air pollution in real-time for the first time.
The Day a Rocket Changed Space Policy Forever
Thirty years ago, a Chinese rocket veered off course two seconds after liftoff, destroyed a village, and triggered a political scandal that reshaped how the United States controls space technology to this day
Space Brief 16 Aug 2025
Today's brief covers ULA's new mission for the US Space Force, China's moon rocket test, delays in the DARC radar system, and SpaceX's Starlink launches.
Space Brief 18 Jul 2025
Today's highlights include Space Force prioritizing military missions, testing new GPS satellite software, and international defense collaborations impacting space assets.