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.
IRIDIUM 33 DEB (34511)
COSPAR: 1997-051HC | 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
34511
International Designator
1997-051HC
Decay Date
10/8/2024
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
0.037
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.
X Report 16 Nov 2024
SpaceX preps for Starship Flight 6 while Shotwell predicts Starship's future impact. Impulse Space secures Falcon 9 launches, and potential shifts in US space policy loom.
Space Brief 13 Apr 2025
SpaceX launches a doubleheader of satellites while Blue Origin prepares for a historic all-female spaceflight. Also, meet FORMOSAT-5 in our Satellite Spotlight.
The End of Free Skies | FAA Starts Charging for Rocket Launches
On April 22, 2026, the FAA published a final rule implementing per-launch user fees for commercial space transportation — the first time the U.S. government has charged payload-based fees for rocket launches. Starting at 25 cents per pound with a $30,000 cap, the fees are modest today. By 2033, they won't be.
Space Brief 27 Aug 2025
Today's key space events include SpaceX's launch of the secretive X-37B military drone, XTAR's U.S. defense market strategy, and China's space station AI upgrade.
The Day Humanity Got Its First Close-up of the Future Apollo Landing Site
Sixty years ago, a pioneering spacecraft called Ranger 8 captured thousands of detailed photographs of the lunar surface before intentionally crashing into the Moon, helping pave the way for humanity's first steps on another world
Space Brief 23 Aug 2024
Sentinel-2C sealed in Vega rocket fairing, ULA sale tidbit, Polaris Dawn mission updates, Norway's Andøya Spaceport ready for action, Harris commits to space leadership, NASA's latest smallsat launch partners, new members join NASA composite initiative, Mynaric's manufacturing hiccups, Rocket Factory Augsburg's turbopump snag, and Amazon boosts satellite deployment infrastructure.
Space Brief 8 Sep 2025
Today's highlights include China's Yaogan-40 satellite launch, military contracts for rocket studies, and SpaceX's 500th booster landing.