Space Brief 24 Sep 2025
Key highlights on China's reusable rocket developments, U.S. military's Tranche 1 satellite launch, Space Force's weapons acquisition strategies, and more.
Launch Date
October 19, 2011
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC200/39
Launch Vehicle
Proton-M/Briz-M
NORAD ID
37843
International Designator
2011-059A
Epoch
Thu, 02 Jul 2026 20:31:30 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
0.02°
Right Ascension
26.35°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
77.41°
Period
1436.11 min
Mean Motion
1.00 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
VIASAT-1
Alternative Name
ViaSat-1
Type
Status
Owner
VIA
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 37843U 11059A 26183.85521115 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 9999
2 37843 0.0211 26.3466 0002317 77.4105 9.9113 1.00270964 47480
Source: Celestrak
Length
8.7
Diameter
3.1
Span
26.1
Dry Mass
3650
Launch Mass
6740
Shape
Box + 2 Pan
Radar Cross Section
3.9811
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
ViaSat-1
Purpose
Communication
Mission
Communication
Manufacturer
LOR
Life Expectancy
15 years
Bus
SSL-1300
Configuration
SSL-1300
Motor
R-4D
Equipment
Ka-Band payload
Power System
2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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