1 Million AI Data Centers in Orbit Threaten Astronomy | KeepTrack X Report
SpaceX's proposed 1-million-satellite AI data center constellation alarms astronomers as Falcon 9 logs its 25th Starlink launch of 2026.
Launch Date
April 29, 2021
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC40
Launch Vehicle
NORAD ID
48334
International Designator
2021-036BL
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 05:48:17 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
53.16°
Right Ascension
278.75°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
86.39°
Period
94.01 min
Mean Motion
15.32 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
STARLINK-2470
Alternative Name
Starlink 2470
Type
Status
Owner
SPXS
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 48334U 21036BL 26185.24187157 .00000104 00000-0 15121-4 0 9990
2 48334 53.1589 278.7540 0001096 86.3914 273.7213 15.31706366285902
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-L24-60
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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