FLOCK 4Y-9 (55069)

COSPAR: 2023-001BN | Alt Name: Flock 4y-9
DECAYED

Image
FLOCK 4Y-9 Satellite Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details

Launch Date

January 3, 2023

Launch Pad

LC40

Launch Vehicle

Falcon 9

Orbital Elements

NORAD ID

55069

International Designator

2023-001BN

Decay Date

5/6/2025

Basic Satellite Info

Name

FLOCK 4Y-9

Alternative Name

Flock 4y-9

Type

Payload

Status

Decayed

Owner

PLAN

Country

United States

Constellation

N/A

Related Satellites

Major Events

N/A

Summary
FLOCK 4Y-9, also known as Flock 4y-9, is a CubeSat (3U) satellite owned and operated by Planet Labs Inc. (PLAN). Launched on January 3, 2023, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 40 aboard a Falcon 9 launch vehicle, the satellite has dimensions of 0.3 meters in length with a diameter of 0.1 meters and spans 0.3 meters. It weighs 5.7 kilograms at launch and is equipped with solar cells and batteries for power, along with an imaging payload designated as PS0, PS1 or PS2. The satellite's mission is focused on technology purposes and is expected to remain operational for about one year in an International Space Station (ISS) orbit or two to three years in a Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
Physical Characteristics

Length

0.3

Diameter

0.1

Span

0.3

Dry Mass

5.7

Launch Mass

5.7

Shape

Box+2 pan

Radar Cross Section

Unknown

Visual Magnitude

Unknown

Color

Unknown

Material Composition

Unknown

Technical Details

Payload

Dove 24a8

Purpose

Technology

Mission

Technology

Manufacturer

PLAN

Life Expectancy

~ 1 year (ISS orbit); 2-3 years (SSO)

Bus

Cubesat 3U

Configuration

CubeSat (3U)

Motor

None (most); FEEP (#Flock-3p')

Equipment

PS0, PS1 or PS2 imaging payload

Power System

Solar cells, batteries

ADCS

Unknown

Transmitter Frequency

Unknown

Satellite Articles

View All Posts »

Learn more about satellites and other related topics.

Space Brief 25 Jul 2025

Space Brief 25 Jul 2025

Today's briefing covers Spire Global's new intelligence products, a significant military buildup in the Pacific, Space Force organizational changes, and more.

SpaceX Launches Twilight Rideshare With 40 Payloads Including NASA Pandora | KeepTrack X Report

SpaceX Launches Twilight Rideshare With 40 Payloads Including NASA Pandora | KeepTrack X Report

SpaceX launches Twilight rideshare from Vandenberg carrying ~40 payloads including NASA's Pandora satellite. Kepler debuts 10 optical data relay satellites. OroraTech thermal sensors integrated.

Space Brief 22 Dec 2025

Space Brief 22 Dec 2025

Today's highlights include Rocket Lab's record year, setbacks in Japanese space endeavors, secure communication advancements in orbit, and more updates on martian expeditions.

Starlink Satellites Dominate Earth's Orbit

Starlink Satellites Dominate Earth's Orbit

SpaceX's Starlink constellation has grown at an astonishing rate, now accounting for over 20% of all trackable objects in orbit. With plans for tens of thousands more, Starlink is on the cusp of forever changing the landscape of Earth's near-space environment.

Object 100000 and the Sky That Outgrew Its Catalog

Object 100000 and the Sky That Outgrew Its Catalog

On July 11, 2026, a Portuguese satellite named after a Nobel laureate became the first object to carry catalog number 100000. It broke a five-digit numbering limit that had held since Sputnik, and exposed how unprepared decades of tracking software is for a sky this crowded.

The International Scientific Optical Network (ISON)

The International Scientific Optical Network (ISON)

How a controversial telescope network has become a significant player in tracking the increasingly crowded orbital environment, raising important questions about transparency, dual-use technologies, and the future of space situational awareness.

X Report 8 Jul 2025

X Report 8 Jul 2025

SpaceX marks a milestone with its 500th Falcon 9 mission during a week of notable developments, including ongoing Starlink deployments and changes in U.S. military plans.

X Report 31 Mar 2025

X Report 31 Mar 2025

New experiments in space agriculture begin with Fram2 mission, a historic polar orbit flight, and a Starlink launch postponement.