Space Brief 15 Dec 2025
Today's highlights include multiple SpaceX Starlink launches, a successful Rocket Lab mission for JAXA, and a scheduled launch update from Kennedy Space Center.
Launch Date
August 24, 2016
Launch Site
FRGUI
Launch Pad
ELA3
Launch Vehicle
Ariane 5ECA
NORAD ID
41747
International Designator
2016-053A
Epoch
Thu, 02 Jul 2026 19:50:53 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
0.01°
Right Ascension
12.91°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
336.44°
Period
1436.12 min
Mean Motion
1.00 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Name
INTELSAT 36 (IS-36)
Alternative Name
Intelsat IS-36
Type
Status
Owner
INTELU
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 41747U 16053A 26183.82701009 -.00000013 00000-0 00000-0 0 9990
2 41747 0.0098 12.9079 0002007 336.4355 297.7405 1.00270238 36116
Source: Celestrak
Length
5.6
Diameter
3
Span
24.7
Dry Mass
1800
Launch Mass
3253
Shape
Box + 2 panels
Radar Cross Section
6.493
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Intelsat IS-36
Purpose
Communication
Mission
Communication
Manufacturer
SSL
Life Expectancy
15 years
Bus
LS-1300
Configuration
BSS-702MP
Motor
R-4D
Equipment
C-band high-throughput transponders, Ku-band high-throughput transponders
Power System
2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Today's highlights include multiple SpaceX Starlink launches, a successful Rocket Lab mission for JAXA, and a scheduled launch update from Kennedy Space Center.
Today's highlights include Japan's new military satellite imagery initiative, NASA's SPHEREx map, and AST BlueBird 6's groundbreaking cellular array in low Earth orbit.
Explore today's major events in space, including military advancements in satellite tracking, new missile defenses, and significant defense funding decisions.
SpaceX launches its 1,500th Starlink satellite of 2026 as shares jump 19% on Nasdaq debut day. Musk targets $1 trillion in annual revenue by 2030.
On April 22, 2026, the FAA published a final rule implementing per-launch user fees for commercial space transportation — the first time the U.S. government has charged payload-based fees for rocket launches. Starting at 25 cents per pound with a $30,000 cap, the fees are modest today. By 2033, they won't be.
Today's space news features significant discussions on the funding of Space Force, advancements in hypersonic technology, and the potential impacts of spectrum auction plans on border defense systems.
SpaceX achieves a new milestone with its record 139th launch of the year while competition heats up in satellite communications.
SpaceX launches Starlink while debuting on Nasdaq at $1.77 trillion valuation. Meanwhile, Senate FY2027 NDAA would dissolve SDA into Space Force, affecting Tranche constellation tracking.