The Day a Jupiter-Bound Spacecraft Traveled Past Venus
Thirty-five years ago, NASA's Galileo spacecraft made a crucial flyby of Venus, pioneering a complex path through the inner solar system that would revolutionize planetary exploration
TET-1 (38710)
COSPAR: 2012-039D | Alt Name: TET-1
DECAYED
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
July 22, 2012
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC31
Launch Vehicle
Soyuz-FG
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
38710
International Designator
2012-039D
Decay Date
11/18/2022
Basic Satellite Info
Name
TET-1
Alternative Name
TET-1
Type
Payload
Status
Decayed
Owner
DLR2
Country
Germany
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Summary
TET-1 is a technology satellite launched on July 22, 2012, from the Tymshchyn launch site using Soyuz-FG as the launch vehicle. With a configuration known as TET-Bus, this satellite has dimensions of 0.7 meters in length and 0.6 meters in diameter, with a span of 1.8 meters. It has a dry mass of 117 kg and was manufactured by ASTFN/KTHR for the German Aerospace Center (DLR2). TET-1 is equipped with two deployable fixed solar arrays and batteries to provide power. Its purpose is focused on technology, aiming to test various systems in orbit. The satellite operates as a box-shaped structure with two panels and has a lifetime of approximately one year.
Physical Characteristics
Length
0.7
Diameter
0.6
Span
1.8
Dry Mass
117
Launch Mass
117
Shape
Box+ 2 pan
Radar Cross Section
0.3903
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
TET-1
Purpose
Technology
Mission
Technology
Manufacturer
ASTFN/KTHR
Life Expectancy
1 year
Bus
TET-X
Configuration
TET-Bus
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
2 deployable fixed solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Satellite Articles
View All Posts »Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Space Force Opens Secret Tracking Data to Commercial Firms | KeepTrack Space Brief
Space Force shares classified tracking data with commercial firms. Falcon 9 reentry linked to upper-atmosphere lithium plume. SpaceX launches 54 Starlink sats in one day.
Falcon Heavy Returns After 18-Month Hiatus for ViaSat-3 | KeepTrack X Report
SpaceX's Falcon Heavy lifts off for the 12th time after 18 months grounded, delivering the final ViaSat-3 satellite from LC-39A at 10:21 a.m. EDT.
The $1.5 Million Starlink Jammer That Ukraine Keeps Blowing Up
Russia's Volna Kupol Garant electronic warfare system was purpose-built to jam Starlink. It costs around $1.5 million per unit, covers just 20 square kilometers, and can only target one satellite at a time. Ukraine has been finding and destroying them within days of deployment.
SpaceX Postpones Falcon Heavy Launch Carrying Secretive X-37B Spaceplane
SpaceX delays the much-anticipated Falcon Heavy launch of the secretive X-37B military spaceplane, marking a significant moment in space exploration and military technology.
X Report 12 Jun 2025
Today, SpaceX faced delays in launching the Ax-4 mission due to a booster leak, while Starlink made strides towards launching in India with new telecom license approval.
X Report 9 Aug 2025
SpaceX's Crew-10 astronauts are set to return to Earth after a five-month mission, while the company prepares for the launch of 24 new Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Space Brief 8 Oct 2025
Today's brief covers key developments in satellite launches, missile defense strategies, advanced IoT satellite connectivity, and the projected growth of the satellite market driven by defense needs.