X Report 16 May 2025
Today's brief highlights the launch of United Airlines' Starlink Wi-Fi on passenger flights, updates on Starship development, and SpaceX's push to position Starlink as a GPS alternative in recent FCC discussions.
Launch Date
December 7, 2021
Launch Site
Launch Pad
SLC41
Launch Vehicle
Atlas V 551
NORAD ID
49818
International Designator
2021-118B
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 22:25:35 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
5.72°
Right Ascension
63.02°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
84.82°
Period
1454.75 min
Mean Motion
0.99 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Name
LDPE-1
Alternative Name
LDPE 1
Type
Status
Owner
AFRL
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 49818U 21118B 26184.93444214 -.00000211 00000-0 00000-0 0 9990
2 49818 5.7218 63.0228 0001265 84.8230 97.2952 0.98986283 16807
Source: Celestrak
Length
0.6
Diameter
1.6
Span
3.6
Dry Mass
500
Launch Mass
500
Shape
Cyl+panel
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
LDPE-1
Purpose
Technology
Mission
Technology
Manufacturer
NGIS
Life Expectancy
1 year
Bus
ESPAStar
Configuration
Eagle-Bus ESPA (ESPAStar-D)
Motor
?
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Deployable solar array, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Today's brief highlights the launch of United Airlines' Starlink Wi-Fi on passenger flights, updates on Starship development, and SpaceX's push to position Starlink as a GPS alternative in recent FCC discussions.
Today's space brief highlights the U.S. Space Force's new satellite naming scheme, the Air Force Secretary's warnings on China's space advances, BAE Systems' DARPA award, strategies for future space defense, the importance of GEO satellite refueling, and Blue Origin's plans for Space Force certification.
Today's highlights include key advancements for the Dream Chaser, SpaceX's record launches, Moon mission crowding concerns, and updates in European space policy.
Iran successfully struck U.S. aircraft in Saudi Arabia despite maxed-out defensive posture. Space Force ISR and missile warning gaps exposed. Tracking impacts.
Starbase expansion progresses and Germany eyes its own satellite constellation.
Today's brief covers significant advancements in materials technology for space applications, a U.S. Navy contract for rocket production facilities, and NATO's upcoming classified cloud system.
SpaceX rideshare Falcon 9 deployed 81 payloads including military tech demos to sun-synchronous orbit. China's Long March 10B and India's Vikram-I both debut this week among 6 scheduled launches.
Today's Space Brief covers key developments including U.S. Space Force tech accelerator, SpaceX veterans' startup funding, ULA's expected dominance in national security missions, and new satellite activity.