X Report 6 Oct 2025
SpaceX gears up for its 11th Starship test flight, while Starlink expands connectivity through partnerships with T-Mobile, enhancing app functionality beyond cellular coverage.
ONEWEB-0253 (48971)
COSPAR: 2021-060E | Alt Name: OneWeb SL0253
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
July 1, 2021
Launch Site
VOSTO
Launch Pad
PU1S
Launch Vehicle
Soyuz-2-1B
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
48971
International Designator
2021-060E
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 02:18:15 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
87.91°
Right Ascension
225.42°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
97.34°
Period
109.37 min
Mean Motion
13.17 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
ONEWEB-0253
Alternative Name
OneWeb SL0253
Type
Payload
Status
Operational
Owner
ONEWEBN
Country
United Kingdom
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 48971U 21060E 26185.09600817 .00000121 00000-0 28162-3 0 9997
2 48971 87.9085 225.4176 0002162 97.3392 262.7985 13.16594582241818
Source: Celestrak
Summary
The ONEWEB-0253 satellite, also known as OneWeb SL0253, is owned by OneWeb and manufactured by Onewus. It was launched on July 1, 2021, from the Vostochny Cosmodrome using a Soyuz-2-1B launch vehicle. The spacecraft uses an Arrow bus configuration and has dimensions of 1.3 meters in length and 1 meter in diameter with a span of 5 meters when deployed. It weighs 148 kilograms at launch and has a dry mass of 140 kilograms. Equipped with a Ku-Band payload, solar arrays for power generation, and batteries for energy storage, its primary mission is communication. The satellite utilizes SPT-50 or BHT-350 Hall effect thrusters as its propulsion system and is expected to have an operational lifetime of 7 years.
Physical Characteristics
Length
1.3
Diameter
1
Span
5
Dry Mass
140
Launch Mass
148
Shape
Trapezoid+2 pan
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
OneWeb L8-034
Purpose
Communication
Mission
Communication
Manufacturer
ONEWUS
Life Expectancy
+ 7 years
Bus
ARROW
Configuration
Arrow bus
Motor
SPT-50 or BHT-350 Hall effect thrusters
Equipment
Ku-Band payload
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.
SpaceX Wins $178.5M Space Force Contract, X Report 3 Apr 2026
SpaceX secured a $178.5M Space Force contract to launch missile-tracking satellites from 2027, backing the Missile Track Custody threat-tracking layer.
The Day Humanity First Used a Planet to Navigate the Solar System
Fifty-one years ago, Mariner 10 revolutionized space exploration by executing the first-ever planetary gravity assist at Venus, pioneering a technique that would transform how we explore the solar system
Space Brief 27 Feb 2025
Today's highlights include Rocket Lab's progress on the Space Force's VICTUS HAZE mission, BlackSky's new government contract, and AEI's policy recommendations for Space Force restructuring.
X Report 20 May 2025
SpaceX gears up for new Starlink shell deployment and secures updated licensing for Starship, amidst ongoing preparations for Falcon 9 launches.
The Day Two Astronauts Proved We Could Reach the Moon
Sixty years ago, Frank Borman and James Lovell launched aboard Gemini 7 for a grueling 14-day mission that would prove humans could endure the journey to the moon and achieve the first true rendezvous in space
The Kessler Syndrome
The Kessler Syndrome threatens humanity's future in space as cascading satellite collisions create exponential debris growth. With 36,000+ tracked objects and recent incidents accelerating risks, we face a critical juncture: implement solutions now or potentially lose access to low Earth orbit forever.
Space Brief 14 Dec 2024
Today’s Space Brief covers significant developments such as SpaceX’s latest Starlink launch, the US Space Force testing modular satellite technology, and key long-range missile tests by the Pentagon.