FCC Approves Reflect Orbital Sunlight Satellite | KeepTrack Space Brief
FCC clears Reflect Orbital's first satellite to bounce sunlight into nighttime zones, despite pushback from astronomers concerned about orbital streaking and wildlife impacts.
NORAD ID
43256
International Designator
2018-030H
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 23:51:27 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
86.40°
Right Ascension
283.32°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
98.66°
Period
100.40 min
Mean Motion
14.34 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
IRIDIUM 142
Alternative Name
Iridium Next SV142
Type
Status
Owner
IRIDS
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 43256U 18030H 26184.99406696 .00000110 00000-0 32075-4 0 9995
2 43256 86.3961 283.3218 0002332 98.6598 261.4862 14.34218360432546
Source: Celestrak
Length
3.1
Diameter
1.5
Span
9.4
Dry Mass
700
Launch Mass
860
Shape
Half Hex Prism+2 pan
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Iridium Next SV142
Purpose
Communication, traffic monitoring
Mission
Communication, traffic monitoring
Manufacturer
OATKGA
Life Expectancy
10 years (design), 15 years (planned)
Bus
EliteBus
Configuration
ELiTeBus-1000
Motor
?
Equipment
L-band payload, Ka-band cross-links, Ka-band downlinks, ADS-B payload, AIS-receiver (on 58 satellites)
Power System
2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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