The Day a Farm Boy Found a New World
Ninety-five years ago, a 24-year-old astronomer with no college degree made one of astronomy's most remarkable discoveries, finding a new planet that would challenge our understanding of the solar system
STARLINK-2280 (47861)
COSPAR: 2021-021B | Alt Name: Starlink 2280
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
March 14, 2021
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC39A
Launch Vehicle
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
47861
International Designator
2021-021B
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 23:47:12 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
53.16°
Right Ascension
77.21°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
80.00°
Period
94.01 min
Mean Motion
15.32 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
STARLINK-2280
Alternative Name
Starlink 2280
Type
Payload
Status
Operational
Owner
SPXS
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 47861U 21021B 26184.99111710 -.00001916 00000-0 -49990-4 0 9996
2 47861 53.1581 77.2148 0001128 80.0000 280.1129 15.31700371294219
Source: Celestrak
Summary
The STARLINK-2280 satellite, also known as Starlink 2280, is a communication satellite operated by SPXS and launched on March 14, 2021, from the LC39A launch pad at AFETR using a Falcon 9 launch vehicle. With dimensions of 0.2 meters in length, 2.8 meters in diameter, and 9 meters in span, it has a dry mass of 248 kilograms and was launched with a total mass of 260 kilograms. Equipped with a Ku/Ka-band payload and optical inter-satellite links (on prototypes), the satellite uses krypton ion thrusters for propulsion and solar arrays along with batteries for power supply. Its shape is described as box-shaped with a pan, and it serves communication purposes in orbit.
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.
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
9
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-L21-02
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
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.
SaxaVord Spaceport
The UK's orbital ambitions rest on a remote Shetland island. How SaxaVord became Europe's first fully licensed vertical launch spaceport - and why, despite being ready for years, it's still waiting for a rocket that works.
Starlink Adds $10/Mo Hardware Fee & Price Hike | KeepTrack X Report
Starlink shifts to monthly hardware rental fees while SpaceX preps Booster 20 for Flight 13 — 10,558 satellites now operational worldwide.
X Report 26 Oct 2025
SpaceX continues to make waves with record launches and emerging challenges in its lunar endeavors. A new launch site on the West Coast promises to ramp up capacity, even as the Falcon 9 prepares for its eventual retirement.
Space Brief 11 Jun 2025
Today's Space Brief covers a major partnership in space tech distribution, China's orbital refueling preparations under U.S. scrutiny, recent U.S. defense budget reveals, and an exciting hyperspectral imagery release from Xplore.
The Day America Shot Down Its Own Spy Satellite
Seventeen years ago, a Navy cruiser in the Pacific fired a missile at a tumbling reconnaissance satellite that had failed within hours of reaching orbit - officially to prevent toxic fuel from reaching the ground, unofficially to prove something far more significant to China and the world
Booster 20 Fires All 33 Engines in Record Test | KeepTrack Space Brief
SpaceX completed a full 33-engine static fire on Booster 20, the longest duration test to date. The milestone clears a major hurdle before the next Starship flight attempt.
Falcon 9 Lifts 11,000 lbs of ISS Cargo on NG-24 | KeepTrack X Report
SpaceX's Falcon 9 launches Northrop Grumman's Cygnus NG-24 to the ISS carrying 11,000 lbs of critical cargo this weekend.