STARLINK-1256 (45401)

COSPAR: 2020-019AT | Alt Name: Starlink 1256

DECAYED

Image

Additional Sources

Launch Details

Launch Date

March 18, 2020

Launch Site

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

Launch Pad

LC39A

Launch Vehicle

Falcon 9

Orbital Elements

NORAD ID

45401

International Designator

2020-019AT

Decay Date

6/18/2025

Basic Satellite Info

Name

STARLINK-1256

Alternative Name

Starlink 1256

Type

Payload

Status

Decayed

Owner

SPXS

Country

United States

Constellation

N/A

Related Satellites

Major Events

N/A

Summary

The STARLINK-1256 satellite, also known as Starlink 1256, is part of the Starlink constellation operated by SpaceX (SPXS). It was launched on March 18, 2020, from Launch Pad LC39A at the Kennedy Space Center using a Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The satellite has dimensions of approximately 0.2 meters in length and 2.8 meters in diameter with a span of 9 meters. Its dry mass is 248 kg, while its launch mass was 260 kg. Equipped with Ku/Ka-band payload capabilities and optical inter-satellite links on prototypes, it utilizes solar arrays and batteries for power generation and krypton ion thrusters for propulsion. The satellite's mission is to provide communication services as part of the broader Starlink network designed to offer global broadband internet coverage.

Starlink is a satellite constellation developed by SpaceX with the aim of providing global broadband internet coverage. Thousands of small satellites are deployed in low Earth orbit (LEO), enabling high-speed internet access even in remote areas. However, the rapid increase in satellites raises concerns about space debris and the potential for collisions, which can lead to further debris creation and endanger other spacecraft. Additionally, the sheer number of Starlink satellites can affect astronomical observations by increasing light pollution. Proper deorbiting plans and international coordination are essential to mitigate these challenges and ensure long-term sustainability in space.

Physical Characteristics

Length

0.2

Diameter

2.8

Span

Dry Mass

248

Launch Mass

260

Shape

Box + pan

Radar Cross Section

Unknown

Visual Magnitude

Unknown

Color

Unknown

Material Composition

Unknown

Technical Details

Payload

Starlink V1.0-L5-04

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

Satellite Articles

View All Posts »

Learn more about satellites and other related topics.

Shimizu's Luna Ring - The Plan to Wrap the Moon in Solar Panels

A 220-year-old Japanese construction company wants to build an 11,000-kilometer belt of solar cells around the lunar equator and beam the power back to Earth. The physics checks out. Everything else is another story.

Space Force Plans to Double Active-Duty Force by 2030 | KeepTrack Space Brief

Space Force confirms plan to double active-duty Guardians by 2030, targeting faster response to satellite anomalies and adversary maneuvers in space domain awareness operations.

X Report 2 Dec 2025

SpaceX successfully launched its 60th mission of the year, deploying 27 Starlink satellites from California. The company continues to hit milestones, confirming its dominance in spaceflight as Elon Musk acknowledges the achievement. Spire also expands its partnership with Deloitte to enhance cybersecurity in orbit.

SpaceX Targets 600th Falcon Booster Landing, X Report 19 Apr 2026

SpaceX targets its 600th Falcon 9 booster landing on Starlink 17-22, lofting 25 satellites from Vandenberg. Plus a 2028 SpaceX ride for ESA's Mars rover.

Space Brief 12 Jul 2025

Today's focus spans from major military training initiatives in orbit to key updates on drone policies and crucial satellite launches.

Space Brief 26 Aug 2025

Today's space news highlights include U.S. military satellite deployments, innovative AI aboard the Chinese space station, and breakthroughs in interplanetary communications.

X Report 8 Nov 2024

SpaceX makes strides with Starship testing while Starlink faces mounting competition as Viasat eyes Telesat's LEO capacity.

STS-51B | Three-Tenths of a Second from Disaster

Forty years ago today, Challenger lifted off LC-39A on a science mission that nobody outside Morton-Thiokol would call dangerous. Years later, after the orbiter and seven other astronauts were gone, investigators looked at the recovered boosters from STS-51B and realized the crew had come within a fraction of a second of dying first. This is the story of the launch that should have been a warning.