The Farming Satellite Iran Can't Launch Itself
Iran calls Kowsar 1.5 a private-sector farming satellite. Its 3.45-meter camera, its sun-synchronous orbit, and the Russian rocket that carried it point somewhere else entirely.
NORAD ID
54174
International Designator
2022-141T
Epoch
Mon, 20 Jul 2026 06:00:04 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
53.16°
Right Ascension
72.75°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
122.34°
Period
94.59 min
Mean Motion
15.22 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
STARLINK-5248
Alternative Name
Starlink 5248
Type
Status
Owner
SPXS
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 54174U 22141T 26201.25004630 .00008050 00000+0 35837-3 0 9993
2 54174 53.1594 72.7533 0000838 122.3362 289.9740 15.22344141 5657
Source: Celestrak
Length
0.2
Diameter
2.8
Span
9
Dry Mass
290
Launch Mass
305
Shape
Box + pan
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Starlink Group 4-31-18
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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