Space Object Catalog
The master ledger of everything orbiting Earth: how tens of thousands of satellites, rocket bodies, and debris fragments are tracked and numbered
ELECTRON DEB (49471)
COSPAR: 2021-106C | Alt Name: Electron TopHat adapter
DECAYED
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
November 18, 2021
Launch Site
RLLB
Launch Pad
LC1A
Launch Vehicle
Electron
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
49471
International Designator
2021-106C
Decay Date
3/12/2022
Basic Satellite Info
Name
ELECTRON DEB
Alternative Name
Electron TopHat adapter
Type
Debris
Status
Space Junk
Owner
RLABN
Country
New Zealand
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Summary
Space debris, also known as space junk, encompasses all non-functional objects orbiting Earth such as defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and fragments from collisions or disintegrations. Over time, this debris can accumulate and create an increasingly hazardous environment in orbit. Even tiny fragments, traveling at extremely high velocities, can inflict significant damage on operational satellites and spacecraft. If left unmanaged, the density of debris raises the risk of catastrophic collisions and further fragmentation, compounding the problem and threatening the safety and sustainability of space activities.
Physical Characteristics
Length
1
Diameter
1
Span
1
Dry Mass
20
Launch Mass
20
Shape
Cyl
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Unknown
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
RLABN
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
TopHat
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Satellite Articles
View All Posts »Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Kulasekarapattinam SSLV Launch Complex
India's second spaceport solves a geometry problem. How ISRO is building a dedicated small satellite facility that eliminates the costly dogleg maneuvers plaguing polar launches from Sriharikota.
Starship V3 Launch Looms as Residents Sue Over Home Damage | KeepTrack X Report
SpaceX faces a new lawsuit from Texas residents alleging Starship launches caused property damage, just as V3 flight preparations ramp up.
Space Brief 18 Nov 2025
Key updates on strategic military shifts, technological advancements, and a critical replacement mission for Chinese astronauts highlight today's space news.
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.
X Report 12 May 2025
SpaceX prepares for its 100th Falcon 9 launch from Kennedy Space Center while facing a scrubbed attempt of the latest Starlink deployment.
108 Minutes That Changed Everything - and the 20-Year Echo That Followed
On April 12, 1961, a 27-year-old Soviet pilot rode a modified ICBM into orbit and came back alive after 108 minutes. Exactly twenty years later, two Americans climbed aboard an untested spacecraft covered in 31,000 ceramic tiles and bet their lives that the math was right.
How does Google Map's Satellite View Feature Work?
Learn which satellites take photos and why we can't get updates instantly.