The Day Japan Joined the Geostationary Club
Forty-eight years ago, a pioneering satellite named Kiku 2 propelled Japan into the exclusive group of nations capable of operating satellites in geostationary orbit
Launch Date
September 30, 1969
Launch Site
AFWTR
Launch Pad
SLC1W
Launch Vehicle
Thorad SLV-2G Agena D
NORAD ID
05430
International Designator
1969-082HW
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 09:58:15 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
70.11°
Right Ascension
345.51°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
289.98°
Period
101.35 min
Mean Motion
14.21 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
THORAD AGENA D DEB
Alternative Name
deb Agena D
Type
Status
Owner
SAMSO
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 05430U 69082HW 26184.41546057 .00000698 00000-0 34217-3 0 9993
2 05430 70.1069 345.5109 0059375 289.9847 69.4884 14.20871265915549
Source: Celestrak
Length
0
Diameter
0
Span
0
Dry Mass
0
Launch Mass
0
Shape
N/A
Radar Cross Section
0.0086
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Unknown
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
Unknown
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Unknown
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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Forty-eight years ago, a pioneering satellite named Kiku 2 propelled Japan into the exclusive group of nations capable of operating satellites in geostationary orbit
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