Space Brief 1 Jul 2025
Key developments in the space sector include new partnerships for satellite surveillance, strategic shifts from the Defense Department impacting weather forecasting, and the Space Force's focus on agile satellite technologies.
Launch Date
January 20, 2012
Launch Site
Launch Pad
SLC37B
Launch Vehicle
Delta 4M+(5,4)
NORAD ID
38070
International Designator
2012-003A
Epoch
Thu, 02 Jul 2026 19:10:59 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
0.02°
Right Ascension
33.44°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
91.95°
Period
1436.15 min
Mean Motion
1.00 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
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Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Name
WGS F4 (USA 233)
Alternative Name
WGS SV-4
Type
Status
Owner
AFSMC
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 38070U 12003A 26183.79930490 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 9995
2 38070 0.0212 33.4355 0001623 91.9508 171.6061 1.00267905 44305
Source: Celestrak
Length
6
Diameter
3
Span
40.9
Dry Mass
2500
Launch Mass
5768
Shape
Box + 2 Pan
Radar Cross Section
15.8583
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Wideband Global Satcom 4
Purpose
Communication
Mission
Communication
Manufacturer
BOES
Life Expectancy
14 years
Bus
BSS-702HP
Configuration
BSS-702
Motor
R-4D-15-375
Equipment
Cross-band (X-band, Global Broadcast, 2-way Ka-band) payload
Power System
2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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