Space Brief 29 Dec 2025
Today's highlights include Japan's new military satellite imagery initiative, NASA's SPHEREx map, and AST BlueBird 6's groundbreaking cellular array in low Earth orbit.
Launch Date
February 17, 2020
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC40
Launch Vehicle
NORAD ID
45179
International Designator
2020-012B
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 04:10:52 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
53.03°
Right Ascension
105.57°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
114.02°
Period
89.87 min
Mean Motion
16.02 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Name
STARLINK-1143
Alternative Name
Starlink 1143
Type
Status
Owner
SPXS
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 45179U 20012B 26185.17421330 .00435432 95319-4 72847-3 0 9997
2 45179 53.0296 105.5741 0003573 114.0176 246.1228 16.02334124354333
Source: Celestrak
Length
0.2
Diameter
2.8
Span
9
Dry Mass
248
Launch Mass
260
Shape
Box + pan
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Starlink V1.0-L4-02
Purpose
Communication
Mission
Communication
Manufacturer
SPXS
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Starlink
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Krypton ion thrusters
Equipment
Ku/Ka-band payload (all), optical inter-satellite links (a few prototypes)
Power System
Solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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