Space Force Eyes Space Tugs, On-Orbit Refueling by 2030 | KeepTrack Space Brief
Space Force commits to operational space tugs and on-orbit refueling by 2030. New capabilities will complicate conjunction analysis for GEO and MEO satellite tracking.
NORAD ID
51780
International Designator
2022-017N
Epoch
Sun, 19 Jul 2026 20:00:01 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
53.16°
Right Ascension
104.22°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
67.05°
Period
94.14 min
Mean Motion
15.30 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
STARLINK-3617
Alternative Name
Starlink 3617
Type
Status
Owner
SPXS
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 51780U 22017N 26200.83335647 .00024307 00000+0 84343-3 0 9992
2 51780 53.1608 104.2199 0001627 67.0505 153.7954 15.29681900 5731
Source: Celestrak
Length
0.2
Diameter
2.8
Span
9
Dry Mass
275
Launch Mass
297
Shape
Box + pan
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Starlink Group 4-11-13
Purpose
Communication
Mission
Communication
Manufacturer
SPXS
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Starlink
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Krypton ion thrusters
Equipment
Ku/Ka-band payload, optical inter-satellite link
Power System
Solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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Space Force commits to operational space tugs and on-orbit refueling by 2030. New capabilities will complicate conjunction analysis for GEO and MEO satellite tracking.
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