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.
O3B FM16 (43232)
COSPAR: 2018-024B | Alt Name: O3b FM16
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
March 9, 2018
Launch Site
FRGUI
Launch Pad
ELS
Launch Vehicle
Soyuz-ST-B
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
43232
International Designator
2018-024B
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 08:04:12 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
0.05°
Right Ascension
5.23°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
93.31°
Period
287.93 min
Mean Motion
5.00 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
O3B FM16
Alternative Name
O3b FM16
Type
Payload
Status
Operational
Owner
O3BS
Country
United Kingdom
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 43232U 18024B 26184.33626081 -.00000015 00000-0 00000-0 0 9996
2 43232 0.0522 5.2322 0002642 93.3124 261.4847 5.00116080151757
Source: Celestrak
Summary
O3B FM16 is a communication satellite launched by O3BS on March 9, 2018, from Guiana Space Center using a Soyuz-ST-B launch vehicle. The spacecraft measures 4 meters in length with a diameter of 2 meters and has a span of 12 meters due to its solar arrays. It was manufactured by THALR with a dry mass of 500 kilograms and a launch mass of 700 kilograms. O3B FM16 is equipped with 12 Ka-Band transponders for communication purposes and uses two deployable solar arrays along with batteries for power generation. Its operational lifetime is expected to be 10 years, and it features an LS-400 AOCS motor system. The satellite has a box trap+2 pan shape and is part of the Prisma BUS with ELiTeBus-1000 configuration designed for communication missions.
Physical Characteristics
Length
4
Diameter
2
Span
12
Dry Mass
500
Launch Mass
700
Shape
Box trap+2 pan
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
O3b 16
Purpose
Communication
Mission
Communication
Manufacturer
THALR
Life Expectancy
10 years
Bus
Prisma
Configuration
ELiTeBus-1000
Motor
LS-400 AOCS
Equipment
12 Ka-Band transponders
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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