Space Brief 16 Sep 2024
Highlights of the day include the Polaris Dawn mission's splashdown, advances in space traffic management, and intriguing astronomy insights from the cloud's edge.
GSAT0002 (GIOVE-B) (32781)
COSPAR: 2008-020A | Alt Name: Giove-B
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
April 26, 2008
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC31
Launch Vehicle
Soyuz-FG
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
32781
International Designator
2008-020A
Epoch
Wed, 01 Jul 2026 02:31:08 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
60.01°
Right Ascension
37.65°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
279.26°
Period
870.59 min
Mean Motion
1.65 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
GSAT0002 (GIOVE-B)
Alternative Name
Giove-B
Type
Payload
Status
Non-operational
Owner
ESA
Country
European Space Agency
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 32781U 08020A 26182.10495805 -.00000050 00000-0 00000-0 0 9998
2 32781 60.0090 37.6528 0002520 279.2633 80.7828 1.65405372110671
Source: Celestrak
Summary
GSAT0002 (GIOVE-B), also known as Giove-B, is a navigation satellite built by THALR for ESA and launched on April 26, 2008, from the TYMSC launch site using Soyuz-FG as the launch vehicle. The spacecraft has a Proteus Bus configuration with dimensions of 2.4 meters in length, 1 meter in diameter, and an operational span of 11 meters. It weighs 530 kilograms at launch and has a dry mass of 502 kilograms. Equipped with two deployable solar arrays and batteries for power generation, the satellite carries the Galileo IOV Experiment B payload to support navigation missions. The satellite's shape is described as Box + 2 Pan, with an RCS (Reactive Control System) area of 4.8855 square meters. Giove-B was operational from its stable date on April 27, 2008.
Physical Characteristics
Length
2.4
Diameter
1
Span
11
Dry Mass
502
Launch Mass
530
Shape
Box + 2 Pan
Radar Cross Section
4.8855
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Galileo IOV Experiment B
Purpose
Navigation
Mission
Navigation
Manufacturer
THALR
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Proteus
Configuration
Proteus Bus
Motor
AOCS
Equipment
Unknown
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.
The 10 Most Iconic Satellites Still in Space
Let's look at the legacy of space exploration with the 10 most iconic satellites still orbiting Earth.
Falcon 9 Lofts 5-Ton Cygnus XL to ISS | KeepTrack X Report
SpaceX's Falcon 9 delivered Northrop Grumman's second Cygnus XL — carrying over 5 tons of cargo — to the ISS on April 11, 2026.
Space Brief 14 Jul 2025
Today's briefing covers the latest developments in satellite intelligence funding, new mandates affecting space launch and missile defense, and the early conclusion of a private astronaut mission. We also discuss Firefly Aerospace's plans to go public and stunning imagery from NASA's Parker Solar Probe.
Space Brief 9 May 2025
Today's briefing covers new satellite projects, military tech advancements, and insights into missile defense strategies. Discover partnerships in satellite design and exciting developments in space military technology.
X Report 27 Jun 2025
SpaceX successfully launched 27 Starlink satellites while facing new competition for its satellite programs, including potential alternatives for the Space Force.
$4.16B Golden Dome Contract Awarded to SpaceX | KeepTrack X Report
SpaceX wins a $4.16B Pentagon contract for missile-tracking satellites, while hitting its 50th Starlink launch of 2026 in a landmark May.
Space Brief 1 Oct 2025
Today's brief covers an increase in Chinese satellite launches, the operational status of the Space Force's ATLAS software, and a significant fundraising event in the defense sector.