Space Brief 8 Aug 2025
Today's brief highlights significant shifts in military space spending due to the Golden Dome program, the U.S. Space Force's advancements in tactical satellite communications, and NASA's race to nuclear power in space.
Launch Date
October 29, 2018
Launch Site
JSC
Launch Pad
LC603
Launch Vehicle
Chang Zheng 2C
NORAD ID
43662
International Designator
2018-083A
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 06:00:29 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
97.36°
Right Ascension
189.28°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
80.41°
Period
94.96 min
Mean Motion
15.16 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Name
CFOSAT
Alternative Name
Zhongfa Haiyang Weixing
Type
Status
Owner
GZZB/CNES
Country
China
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 43662U 18083A 26185.25034303 .00003967 00000-0 20706-3 0 9996
2 43662 97.3606 189.2787 0002180 80.4071 279.7409 15.16482667425024
Source: Celestrak
Length
1.4
Diameter
1.2
Span
10
Dry Mass
700
Launch Mass
700
Shape
Box + 2 Pan
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
CFOSat
Purpose
Earth Science
Mission
Earth Science
Manufacturer
DFHZ
Life Expectancy
3 years
Bus
CAST-2000
Configuration
CAST2000 bus
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
SWIM, SCAT
Power System
2 deployable fixed solar array, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Today's brief highlights significant shifts in military space spending due to the Golden Dome program, the U.S. Space Force's advancements in tactical satellite communications, and NASA's race to nuclear power in space.
Today's briefing covers the Space Force's plans for future launches, new initiatives in missile defense, and the latest on military and aerospace advancements.
SpaceX's disk-shaped Starfall reentry vehicle debuts as the constellation hits 10,671 working satellites across low Earth orbit.
Today's Space Brief covers major developments in Pentagon procurement methods, strategic satellite intelligence advancements, and increasing interest in drone technology within the defense sector.
Today's Space Brief covers the reentry of Firefly's Blue Ghost moon lander, a compelling study on space debris exacerbated by climate change, and new advancements from the Vera Rubin Observatory.
Today's brief covers the new Space Force operations doctrine, international defense collaborations by the UAE, and satellite tracking technology innovations.
SpaceX successfully launched 29 Starlink satellites on the record-breaking 32nd flight of its Falcon 9 rocket. Elon Musk discusses a potential future as a Type II civilization, emphasizing the role of AI and satellite technology.
Space Force awards Pulse Space $40 million to develop laser systems for transmitting power and data between spacecraft in orbit. Game-changing on-orbit energy transfer capability.