X Report 8 Nov 2024
SpaceX makes strides with Starship testing while Starlink faces mounting competition as Viasat eyes Telesat's LEO capacity.
IRIDIUM 33 DEB (33778)
COSPAR: 1997-051R | Alt Name: deb Iridium 33
DECAYED
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
September 14, 1997
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC81/23
Launch Vehicle
Proton-K/17S40
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
33778
International Designator
1997-051R
Decay Date
11/14/2011
Basic Satellite Info
Name
IRIDIUM 33 DEB
Alternative Name
deb Iridium 33
Type
Debris
Status
Space Junk
Owner
IRIDS
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Summary
Space debris, also known as space junk, encompasses all non-functional objects orbiting Earth such as defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and fragments from collisions or disintegrations. Over time, this debris can accumulate and create an increasingly hazardous environment in orbit. Even tiny fragments, traveling at extremely high velocities, can inflict significant damage on operational satellites and spacecraft. If left unmanaged, the density of debris raises the risk of catastrophic collisions and further fragmentation, compounding the problem and threatening the safety and sustainability of space activities.
Physical Characteristics
Length
0
Diameter
0
Span
0
Dry Mass
0
Launch Mass
0
Shape
N/A
Radar Cross Section
0.048
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Unknown
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
Unknown
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Unknown
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Satellite Articles
View All Posts »Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
China's 75 Unusual GEO Maneuvers Flagged by CSIS | KeepTrack Space Brief
CSIS analysis identifies 75 unusual orbital maneuvers by Chinese GEO satellites over 10 years, consistent with military reconnaissance. Track GEO objects via KeepTrack.
Starship V3 Scrubbed & SpaceX Files $18.7B IPO | KeepTrack X Report
SpaceX scrubbed Starship Flight 12's V3 debut due to a hydraulic pin fault, then filed an $18.7B IPO S-1 targeting Nasdaq under ticker SPCX.
Shimizu's Luna Ring - The Plan to Wrap the Moon in Solar Panels
A 220-year-old Japanese construction company wants to build an 11,000-kilometer belt of solar cells around the lunar equator and beam the power back to Earth. The physics checks out. Everything else is another story.
X Report 25 Sep 2025
SpaceX continues to make strides with multiple launches, including 28 Starlink satellites and NASA's IMAP mission, highlighting its ongoing role in advancing space weather research.
X Report 17 Feb 2025
Key insights on Starship development challenges and latest Starlink satellite status.
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.
Space Brief 26 Oct 2024
Explore the recent signing of the Artemis Accords by Chile, Boeing's strategic considerations, and captivating space missions including China's satellite endeavors and the James Webb Space Telescope's latest discovery.