Space Brief 17 Aug 2025
Today's space news features major US Space Force satellite launches, regulatory changes supporting private space initiatives, and updates on SpaceX's Starship advances.
Launch Date
April 12, 2017
Launch Site
XICLF
Launch Pad
LC2
Launch Vehicle
Chang Zheng 3B
NORAD ID
42662
International Designator
2017-018A
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 05:54:11 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
0.10°
Right Ascension
89.14°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
130.60°
Period
1436.06 min
Mean Motion
1.00 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Name
CHINASAT 16 (SJ-13)
Alternative Name
Shi Jian 13
Type
Status
Owner
CAST
Country
China
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 42662U 17018A 26184.24596696 -.00000341 00000-0 00000-0 0 9994
2 42662 0.0967 89.1400 0004432 130.5966 260.5869 1.00274596 33915
Source: Celestrak
Length
5
Diameter
2.5
Span
30
Dry Mass
2500
Launch Mass
4600
Shape
Box + 2 Pan
Radar Cross Section
12.3708
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Zhongxing 16
Purpose
Communications, technology
Mission
Communications, technology
Manufacturer
CAST
Life Expectancy
15 years
Bus
DFH-3B
Configuration
DFH-4S Bus
Motor
LIPS-200
Equipment
high-throughput 26 Ka-band transponders, Laser communication terminal
Power System
2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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