X Report 26 Feb 2025
SpaceX progresses with Starship Flight 8 preparations, completes investigation into Flight 7 mishap, and prepares for upcoming launches.
MERIDIAN 6 (38995)
COSPAR: 2012-063A | Alt Name: Meridian No. 16L
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
November 14, 2012
Launch Site
PLMSC
Launch Pad
LC43/4
Launch Vehicle
Soyuz-2-1A
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
38995
International Designator
2012-063A
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:01:54 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
64.02°
Right Ascension
352.88°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
228.27°
Period
717.38 min
Mean Motion
2.01 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
MERIDIAN 6
Alternative Name
Meridian No. 16L
Type
Payload
Status
Non-operational
Owner
VVKO
Country
Russia
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 38995U 12063A 26184.54299523 .00000242 00000-0 00000-0 0 9994
2 38995 64.0185 352.8773 7353656 228.2705 40.6208 2.00731309 99830
Source: Celestrak
Summary
MERIDIAN 6 (also known as Meridian No. 16L) is a communication satellite launched on November 14, 2012, from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Soyuz-2-1A launch vehicle. It has dimensions of 4 meters in length and 2 meters in diameter, with a span of 10 meters due to its solar arrays. The satellite weighs approximately 2100 kg at launch and is equipped with two deployable solar arrays for power generation along with batteries. Its design is based on the Uragan-M bus, featuring a box shape with two panels, and it operates in a three-axis stabilized configuration. MERIDIAN 6 was manufactured by RESH and is owned by VVKO (Russian Air Force). The satellite has an expected operational lifetime of 7 years and serves communication purposes as part of the Meridian constellation.
Physical Characteristics
Length
4
Diameter
2
Span
10
Dry Mass
2100
Launch Mass
2100
Shape
Box + 2 Pan
Radar Cross Section
29.3429
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Meridian No. 16L
Purpose
Communication
Mission
Communication
Manufacturer
RESH
Life Expectancy
7 years
Bus
Meridian
Configuration
3-Axis stabilized Uragan-M bus ?
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Map
Next Pass
Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)
Start Azimuth
Max Elevation
Stop Azimuth
Time Until
Pass Duration
Satellite Articles
View All Posts »Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
$4.16B Space Force Contract Goes to SpaceX, X Report 30 May 2026
SpaceX wins a $4.16B US Space Force contract for an airborne threat tracking satellite network. Starlink holds 10,413 satellites in orbit, 10,397 working.
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.
1 Million AI Data Centers in Orbit Threaten Astronomy | KeepTrack X Report
SpaceX's proposed 1-million-satellite AI data center constellation alarms astronomers as Falcon 9 logs its 25th Starlink launch of 2026.
Space Brief 28 Aug 2025
Today's briefing covers collaborations enhancing defense capabilities, new satellite technologies entering the market, and strategic shifts in military satellite applications.
China Opens 2026 With Yaogan and Guowang Satellite Launches | KeepTrack Space Brief
China launches Yaogan spacecraft into unusual orbit and Guowang constellation satellites to start 2026. NASA and DOE plan lunar nuclear reactor by 2030. Space Force switches GPS launch rocket.
X Report 29 Aug 2025
SpaceX celebrates a record-breaking Falcon 9 launch while Starship demonstrates strong performance in its recent test flight, fueling excitement for upcoming projects.
The Day We Lost Apollo 1
Fifty-eight years ago, a tragic fire during a routine test transformed spacecraft design and created the foundation of modern spaceflight safety culture