Space Brief 3 Apr 2025
Dive into the latest developments including U.S. national security launch contracts, penalties for drone violations at military bases, and emerging European launch providers.
Launch Date
February 17, 2016
Launch Site
TANSC
Launch Pad
Y
Launch Vehicle
H-IIA 202
NORAD ID
41439
International Designator
2016-012H
Decay Date
12/28/2022
Name
ASTRO-H (HITOMI) DEB
Alternative Name
deb ASTRO-H
Type
Status
Owner
JAXA/ISASJ
Country
Japan
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Length
0
Diameter
0
Span
0
Dry Mass
0
Launch Mass
0
Shape
N/A
Radar Cross Section
0.0335
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Unknown
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
Unknown
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Unknown
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Dive into the latest developments including U.S. national security launch contracts, penalties for drone violations at military bases, and emerging European launch providers.
On April 27, 1961, a Scout rocket lifted a 37-kilogram NASA satellite into orbit from Wallops Island carrying the first serious instrument for detecting cosmic gamma rays. Explorer 11 operated for seven months before its tape recorder failed. In that time it registered 22 gamma-ray photons - a pitiful number by modern standards, but enough to launch an entire branch of astronomy.
SpaceX addresses the cause of its recent Starship Flight 8 explosion, while successfully launching 23 more Starlink satellites as it continues to expand its constellation.
Today's brief highlights the U.S. Space Force's upcoming modular satellite mission, increased military reliance on commercial space intelligence, and the demand for expanded commercial reserve support. Learn more about these advancements alongside our Satellite Spotlight on Yaogan-30 B.
How a California startup's massive centrifuge could transform space access by eliminating rocket fuel, reducing costs by 70%, and enabling daily satellite launches - if it can overcome the physics of scaling from suborbital tests to orbital reality
Today's briefing covers Starlink's role in disaster recovery in the Philippines, insights into the evolving direct-to-device market, and news of European plans for a reusable upper stage rocket inspired by SpaceX's Starship.
SpaceX successfully completed its 100th Starlink mission of the year and launched the 'Haven Demo' private space station along with 17 other satellites. The company also made strides in lunar lander development for Artemis III.
Astroscale selects Isar Aerospace to launch ELSA-M, a commercial deorbit mission targeting defunct satellites in LEO. Over 20,000 trackable debris objects now in orbit.