NROL-179 Starshield Satellites Launch from Vandenberg | KeepTrack X Report
SpaceX launched NROL-179 from Vandenberg at 1:50 a.m. PDT June 19, carrying Starshield spy satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office.
BEIDOU-3S M3S (41315)
COSPAR: 2016-006A | Alt Name: Beidou DW 21
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
February 1, 2016
Launch Site
XICLF
Launch Pad
LC2
Launch Vehicle
Chang Zheng 3C/YZ-1
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
41315
International Designator
2016-006A
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 03:22:53 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
56.72°
Right Ascension
63.11°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
311.10°
Period
773.23 min
Mean Motion
1.86 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
BEIDOU-3S M3S
Alternative Name
Beidou DW 21
Type
Payload
Status
Non-operational
Owner
CNSA
Country
China
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 41315U 16006A 26184.14089346 -.00000035 00000-0 00000-0 0 9992
2 41315 56.7200 63.1131 0003524 311.0985 48.9406 1.86231232 70895
Source: Celestrak
Summary
BEIDOU-3S M3S, also known as Beidou DW 21, is a navigation satellite launched by CNSA on February 1, 2016, from Xichang Satellite Launch Center using the Chang Zheng 3C/YZ-1 launch vehicle. The spacecraft has dimensions of 2.2 meters in length and 1.7 meters in diameter with a span of 10 meters. It had a launch mass of 1014 kilograms and a dry mass of 850 kilograms. The satellite is equipped with two deployable solar arrays and batteries for power supply. Its mission is to provide navigation services, and it has a designed lifetime of 12 years. The satellite's shape consists of a box design plus two panels, and its radar cross-section (RCS) is measured at 10.1995 square meters. Manufactured by SECM, the payload includes Beidou-3 M3-S technology for navigation purposes.
Physical Characteristics
Length
2.2
Diameter
1.7
Span
10
Dry Mass
850
Launch Mass
1014
Shape
Box + 2 Pan
Radar Cross Section
10.1995
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Beidou-3 M3-S
Purpose
Navigation
Mission
Navigation
Manufacturer
SECM
Life Expectancy
12 years
Bus
BD-3M2
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
?
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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