Space Brief 4 Mar 2025
Today's brief covers the historic lunar touchdown by Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander, highlights in military space activity, and a reflection on Pearl Young's pioneering legacy at NASA.
CAPE-3 (47309)
COSPAR: 2021-002A | Alt Name: CAPE 3
DECAYED
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
January 17, 2021
Launch Site
WRAS
Launch Pad
RW12/30
Launch Vehicle
LauncherOne
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
47309
International Designator
2021-002A
Decay Date
2/18/2024
Basic Satellite Info
Name
CAPE-3
Alternative Name
CAPE 3
Type
Payload
Status
Decayed
Owner
ULLAF
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Summary
CAPE-3 is a CubeSat (1U) technology satellite owned and manufactured by ULLAF in the United States. It was launched on January 17, 2021, from the Wallops Flight Facility using a LauncherOne launch vehicle from Launch Pad RW12/30. The satellite has dimensions of 0.1 meters in length and diameter with a span of 0.2 meters. Its dry mass is 1 kilogram, identical to its launch mass. Power is supplied by solar cells and batteries. It has a box plus antenna shape without any major propulsion or attitude control systems listed. The satellite's primary mission is technology demonstration.
Physical Characteristics
Length
0.1
Diameter
0.1
Span
0.2
Dry Mass
1
Launch Mass
1
Shape
Box + Ant
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
CAPE 3
Purpose
Technology
Mission
Technology
Manufacturer
ULLAF
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Cubesat 1U
Configuration
CubeSat (1U)
Motor
None
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Solar cells, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Satellite Articles
View All Posts »Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
New Glenn Explodes at LC-36, Grounded Over 1 Year | KeepTrack Space Brief
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded at Cape Canaveral's LC-36, causing visible pad damage and a year-plus grounding. NASA lunar plans affected.
Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory
Designed for a two-year mission to catch gamma-ray bursts in the act, Swift is now 21 years old, slowly falling out of the sky, and the subject of an unprecedented private rescue mission. Nobody planned for it to be this hard to let go.
Space Force Opens Secret Tracking Data to Commercial Firms | KeepTrack Space Brief
Space Force shares classified tracking data with commercial firms. Falcon 9 reentry linked to upper-atmosphere lithium plume. SpaceX launches 54 Starlink sats in one day.
Starship V3 Debuts Flight 12 With First-Ever Self-Imaging Maneuver | KeepTrack X Report
SpaceX's Starship V3 targets Flight 12 with an unprecedented self-inspection maneuver, while Delta Air Lines walks away from Starlink inflight Wi-Fi.
X Report 17 Apr 2025
Starbase expansion progresses and Germany eyes its own satellite constellation.
Falling Space Debris Risk to Aircraft Grows, North Korea Tests Hypersonic Missiles | KeepTrack Space Brief
Experts warn falling space debris risk to aircraft is increasing. North Korea tests advanced hypersonic missiles. Space Force seeks launch providers for Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg pads.
Space Brief 20 Apr 2025
Today's highlights include advances in space tracking technology by the US Space Force, SpaceX's infrastructure expansion, and a spectacular birthday landing on Earth. Additionally, we spotlight a significant exoplanetary discovery and satellite updates.