Space Brief 7 Feb 2025
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O3B FM3 (40079)
COSPAR: 2014-038A | Alt Name: O3b FM3
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
July 10, 2014
Launch Site
FRGUI
Launch Pad
ELS
Launch Vehicle
Soyuz-ST-B
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
40079
International Designator
2014-038A
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 21:31:08 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
0.05°
Right Ascension
353.11°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
164.94°
Period
287.93 min
Mean Motion
5.00 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
O3B FM3
Alternative Name
O3b FM3
Type
Payload
Status
Operational
Owner
O3B
Country
United Kingdom
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 40079U 14038A 26184.89662400 -.00000014 00000-0 00000-0 0 9998
2 40079 0.0478 353.1146 0002542 164.9376 201.9583 5.00115728213882
Source: Celestrak
Summary
O3B FM3, also known as O3b FM3, is a communication satellite manufactured by THALR and owned by O3B. It was launched on July 10, 2014, from the Guiana Space Centre using a Soyuz-ST-B launch vehicle. The satellite has dimensions of 4 meters in length, 2 meters in diameter, and a span of 12 meters. Its dry mass is 500 kilograms with a launch mass of 700 kilograms. Equipped with an LS-400 AOCS motor for attitude control and two deployable solar arrays along with batteries for power supply, it carries 12 Ka-Band transponders as its payload. O3B FM3 has a designed lifetime of 10 years and is part of the Prisma series using ELiTeBus-1000 configuration. Its shape is described as a box trap with two pans, and it serves communication purposes in orbit.
Physical Characteristics
Length
4
Diameter
2
Span
12
Dry Mass
500
Launch Mass
700
Shape
Box trap+2 pan
Radar Cross Section
7.4489
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
O3b 3
Purpose
Communication
Mission
Communication
Manufacturer
THALR
Life Expectancy
10 years
Bus
Prisma
Configuration
ELiTeBus-1000
Motor
LS-400 AOCS
Equipment
12 Ka-Band transponders
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
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