SpaceX Wins $178.5M Space Force Contract, X Report 3 Apr 2026
SpaceX secured a $178.5M Space Force contract to launch missile-tracking satellites from 2027, backing the Missile Track Custody threat-tracking layer.
Launch Date
October 29, 2018
Launch Site
TANSC
Launch Pad
Y
Launch Vehicle
H-IIA 202
NORAD ID
43679
International Designator
2018-084J
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:49:37 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
98.05°
Right Ascension
39.82°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
102.97°
Period
94.91 min
Mean Motion
15.17 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
STARS-AO
Alternative Name
Aoi
Type
Status
Owner
SHIZ
Country
Japan
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 43679U 18084J 26184.82612713 .00007637 00000-0 38744-3 0 9993
2 43679 98.0481 39.8232 0003528 102.9671 257.1955 15.17239654419991
Source: Celestrak
Length
0.1
Diameter
0.1
Span
0.1
Dry Mass
1.4
Launch Mass
1.4
Shape
Box
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
STARS-AO
Purpose
Astronomy
Mission
Astronomy
Manufacturer
SHIZ
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Cubesat 1U
Configuration
CubeSat (1U)
Motor
None
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Solar cells, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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