Space Brief 18 Dec 2025
Today's updates cover Rocket Lab's launch for the U.S. Space Force, Digantara's major funding round, and discussions on national security in space.
Launch Date
December 25, 2013
Launch Site
PLMSC
Launch Pad
LC133/3
Launch Vehicle
Rokot
NORAD ID
45173
International Designator
2013-076AE
Epoch
Thu, 03 Nov 2022 15:06:05 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
82.45°
Right Ascension
256.42°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
324.68°
Period
114.73 min
Mean Motion
12.55 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Name
COSMOS 2491 DEB
Alternative Name
deb Kosmos-2491
Type
Status
Owner
TSKHM
Country
Russia
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 45173U 13076AE 22306.62923154 .00003974 00000-0 21389-1 0 9999
2 45173 82.4508 256.4219 0265500 324.6808 33.6936 12.55110726 12505
Source: Celestrak
Length
0
Diameter
0
Span
0
Dry Mass
0
Launch Mass
0
Shape
N/A
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Unknown
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
TSKHM
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Unknown
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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