Space Brief 21 May 2025
Today's Space Brief covers significant events including a high-stakes missile defense program, recent Chinese satellite launches, military defense initiatives, and key profiles in defense leadership.
Launch Date
May 10, 1999
Launch Site
TAISC
Launch Pad
LC7
Launch Vehicle
Chang Zheng 4B
NORAD ID
35204
International Designator
1999-025DPL
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:37:36 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
99.00°
Right Ascension
32.10°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
74.41°
Period
99.18 min
Mean Motion
14.52 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Name
FENGYUN 1C DEB
Alternative Name
deb FY-1C
Type
Status
Owner
CASC
Country
China
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 35204U 99025DPL 26184.52611192 .00007123 00000-0 17611-2 0 9998
2 35204 98.9976 32.1003 0038123 74.4064 316.3914 14.51914826938700
Source: Celestrak
Length
0
Diameter
0
Span
0
Dry Mass
0
Launch Mass
0
Shape
N/A
Radar Cross Section
0.0051
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
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
Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Today's Space Brief covers significant events including a high-stakes missile defense program, recent Chinese satellite launches, military defense initiatives, and key profiles in defense leadership.
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.
Today's highlights include Rocket Lab's successful 2025 kick-off launch, SpaceX's upcoming Starlink deployment, and a significant military satellite contract competition.
SpaceX successfully launched the Ax-4 private astronaut mission to the ISS while continuing its satellite deployment with 27 new Starlink satellites, amidst ongoing recovery efforts from the loss of Ship 36.
Today's updates focus on significant developments in U.S. national security space launches, Army space training, potential shifts in satellite procurement strategies, and the Meteor 2-21 satellite.
Today's space brief covers an impressive SpaceX launch record, China's upcoming crew mission to its space station, an Intelsat 33e debris observation, and more. Key topics include SpaceX's Starship events, ESA's Hera mission updates, and Boeing's potential space division sale.
NASA is adding 6 post-certification crew missions to SpaceX's contract as Boeing remains unable to certify Starliner for operational flights.
SpaceX prepares for Bandwagon-2 rideshare mission launch, while FAA updates license for Starship's next flight; Crew Dragon mission faces delays.