Space Brief 19 Apr 2025
Today's brief covers SpaceX's potential government contract, the future of US Space Command headquarters, an auction record for Neil Armstrong's watch, and the volcanic history of Mars.
Launch Date
July 10, 2014
Launch Site
FRGUI
Launch Pad
ELS
Launch Vehicle
Soyuz-ST-B
NORAD ID
40082
International Designator
2014-038D
Epoch
Thu, 02 Jul 2026 02:58:29 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
0.05°
Right Ascension
348.72°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
113.62°
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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Name
O3B FM8
Alternative Name
O3b FM8
Type
Status
Owner
O3B
Country
United Kingdom
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 40082U 14038D 26183.12394999 -.00000017 00000-0 00000-0 0 9995
2 40082 0.0463 348.7213 0002771 113.6205 257.6884 5.00116149218695
Source: Celestrak
Length
4
Diameter
2
Span
12
Dry Mass
500
Launch Mass
700
Shape
Box trap+2 pan
Radar Cross Section
3.9905
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
O3b 8
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
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