Van Allen Probe A Reenters March 10 After 14 Years | KeepTrack Space Brief
NASA's Van Allen Probe A (1,300 lbs) reenters today after 14 years studying Earth's radiation belts. Most debris will burn up; ocean impact statistically likely.
LKW-2 (43080)
COSPAR: 2017-084A | Alt Name: Ludi Kancha Weixing er hao
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
December 23, 2017
Launch Site
JSC
Launch Pad
LC603
Launch Vehicle
Chang Zheng 2D
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
43080
International Designator
2017-084A
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 06:27:40 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
97.12°
Right Ascension
224.27°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
139.28°
Period
94.33 min
Mean Motion
15.27 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
Calculating...
Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
LKW-2
Alternative Name
Ludi Kancha Weixing er hao
Type
Payload
Status
Operational
Owner
ZLZB/GCDX
Country
China
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 43080U 17084A 26185.26922273 .00006606 00000-0 25515-3 0 9999
2 43080 97.1177 224.2688 0002872 139.2797 220.8658 15.26566695474296
Source: Celestrak
Summary
LKW-2, also known as Ludi Kancha Weixing er hao, is an Earth observation satellite operated by ZLZB/GCDX and manufactured by CAST in China. It was launched on December 23, 2017, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSC) using a Chang Zheng 2D launch vehicle from Launch Pad LC603. The spacecraft has dimensions of 2 meters in length, 1.5 meters in diameter, and a span of 10 meters. LKW-2 weighs 2000 kilograms at launch and in its dry state. It is equipped with three deployable fixed solar arrays and batteries for power generation. The satellite's shape consists of a hexagonal cylinder plus three pans, designed to support its mission objectives related to Earth observation.
Physical Characteristics
Length
2
Diameter
1.5
Span
10
Dry Mass
2000
Launch Mass
2000
Shape
Hex cyl + 3 Pan
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
LKW-2
Purpose
Earth observation
Mission
Earth observation
Manufacturer
CAST
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
LKW
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
3 deployable fixed 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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