The Day Apollo 14 Restored NASA's Lunar Dreams
Fifty-four years ago, a Saturn V rocket lifted off carrying three astronauts determined to prove America could still reach the Moon after the near-disaster of Apollo 13
D-STAR ONE (SPARROW) (43881)
COSPAR: 2018-111F | Alt Name: D-Star ONE Sparrow
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
December 27, 2018
Launch Site
VOSTO
Launch Pad
PU1S
Launch Vehicle
Soyuz-2-1A
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
43881
International Designator
2018-111F
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:07:52 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
97.61°
Right Ascension
127.24°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
139.57°
Period
91.13 min
Mean Motion
15.80 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
D-STAR ONE (SPARROW)
Alternative Name
D-Star ONE Sparrow
Type
Payload
Status
Operational
Owner
GOS
Country
Germany
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 43881U 18111F 26184.75546528 .00232733 00000-0 12168-2 0 9999
2 43881 97.6099 127.2363 0006297 139.5676 220.6060 15.80185670413983
Source: Celestrak
Summary
D-STAR ONE (SPARROW) is a CubeSat 3U satellite launched on December 27, 2018, from VOSTO using a Soyuz-2-1A launch vehicle. The spacecraft has dimensions of 0.3 meters in length and 0.1 meters in diameter with an antenna span of 1 meter. It carries two D-Star communication modules for its primary mission which is communications. The satellite weighs 3 kilograms at launch and remains the same after deploying its dry mass. Power comes from solar cells and batteries. Launched by GOS, it has a planned lifetime of one year.
Physical Characteristics
Length
0.3
Diameter
0.1
Span
1
Dry Mass
3
Launch Mass
3
Shape
Box + Ant
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
D-Star ONE Sparrow
Purpose
Communications
Mission
Communications
Manufacturer
GOS
Life Expectancy
1 year
Bus
Cubesat 3U
Configuration
CubeSat (3U)
Motor
None
Equipment
2 D-Star communication modules
Power System
Solar cells, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Map
Next Pass
Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)
Start Azimuth
Max Elevation
Stop Azimuth
Time Until
Pass Duration
Satellite Articles
View All Posts »Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
X Report 24 Dec 2025
SpaceX gears up for significant 2026 launches while a Starlink satellite anomaly provides insights into its operations.
Space Brief 2 Dec 2024
Today's space updates include a new EU space commissioner's priorities, insights from declassified satellite images, and an update on NASA's Europa Clipper mission. A highlight in the Satellite Spotlight features the Russian satellite COSMOS 2070.
X Report 1 Aug 2025
SpaceX successfully launched 19 Starlink satellites from California amidst a weather-related scrub of the Crew-11 mission to the ISS, showcasing the company’s focus on expanding its satellite constellation while overcoming operational challenges.
X Report 24 Aug 2025
SpaceX successfully launched its CRS-33 Dragon cargo mission to the ISS, while preparations for the upcoming Starship Flight 10 continue, highlighting significant advancements in both cargo operations and test flight reliability.
Space Brief 16 Dec 2025
Today's briefing covers the Space Force's AI integration, new naming conventions for satellites, and updates on military and satellite acquisition strategies.
Space Brief 23 Jun 2025
Significant advancements and launches in space: NASA's hypersonic sensor breakthrough, ChinaSat-9C's launch, and SpaceX's resilient Falcon 9 operations.
Space Brief 27 Mar 2025
Today's highlights include the certification of ULA's Vulcan rocket for national security missions, developments in nuclear timekeeping for GPS systems, and updates on the Space Force's new warfighting framework.