Space Brief 10 Mar 2025
Today's briefing covers significant events, including advancements in US missile warning systems, SpaceX's Florida Starship plans, a European rocket's success, and NASA's upcoming missions.
BB 1 (56171)
COSPAR: 2023-050K | Alt Name: BB 1
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
56171
International Designator
2023-050K
Epoch
Mon, 06 Jul 2026 21:08:13 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
81.00°
Right Ascension
61.63°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
250.10°
Period
103.39 min
Mean Motion
13.93 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Polar Plot
3D Visualization
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Basic Satellite Info
Name
BB 1
Alternative Name
BB 1
Type
Payload
Status
Operational
Owner
SDA
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 56171U 23050K 26187.88071034 .00000205 00000+0 14962-3 0 9996
2 56171 81.0025 61.6257 0014576 250.1001 109.8589 13.92825829164276
Source: Celestrak
Summary
BB 1 is an early warning satellite launched by the US Space Development Agency (SDA) on April 2, 2023, from AFWTR SLC4E using a Falcon 9 launch vehicle. It has a bus configuration of Starshield and measures 0.3 meters in length with a diameter of 3 meters and span of 9 meters. The satellite's dry mass is 800 kg, which matches its launch mass. BB 1 is equipped with solar arrays and batteries for power and has the shape of a box with a pan design. Its mission involves early warning operations and it was manufactured by SPX/LEIDOS as part of the SDA-0A TRL SPX-01 payload.
Physical Characteristics
Length
0.3
Diameter
3
Span
9
Dry Mass
800
Launch Mass
800
Shape
Box + pan
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
SDA-0A TRL SPX-01
Purpose
Early warning
Mission
Early warning
Manufacturer
SPX/LEIDOS
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Starshield
Configuration
Starshield bus ?
Motor
?
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Map
Next Pass
Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)
Start Azimuth
Max Elevation
Stop Azimuth
Time Until
Pass Duration
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