Space Brief 17 Jun 2025
Today's space brief covers key developments in satellite monitoring, U.K. defense contracts, and critical licensing reforms supporting national security.
STARLINK-30186 (57470)
COSPAR: 2023-107P | Alt Name: Starlink 30186
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
July 28, 2023
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC40
Launch Vehicle
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
57470
International Designator
2023-107P
Epoch
Sun, 19 Jul 2026 20:00:01 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
43.00°
Right Ascension
311.61°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
283.96°
Period
92.64 min
Mean Motion
15.54 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Explore in the Catalog
Basic Satellite Info
Name
STARLINK-30186
Alternative Name
Starlink 30186
Type
Payload
Status
Operational
Owner
SPXS
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 57470U 23107P 26200.83335647 .00180689 00000+0 26224-2 0 9994
2 57470 42.9997 311.6095 0001726 283.9575 109.8383 15.54450872 5946
Source: Celestrak
Summary
STARLINK-30186 is a communication satellite identified by NORAD CAT ID 57470 and OBJECT ID 2023-107P, belonging to the Starlink V2M series with configuration Starlink v2 Mini. Launched on July 28, 2023, from AFETR LC40 using a Falcon 9 launch vehicle, it was manufactured by SPXS and is owned by SpaceX (SPXS). The satellite has dimensions of 0.3 meters in length, 4.1 meters in diameter, and spans 29 meters when fully deployed. It carries a Ku/Ka/E-band payload along with an optical inter-satellite link for communication purposes and employs Argon ion thrusters as its propulsion system. Equipped with solar arrays and batteries for power generation, the satellite has a launch mass of 730 kg and a dry mass of 700 kg. It is designed in a box plus pan shape for optimal performance in its intended mission.
Starlink is a satellite constellation developed by SpaceX with the aim of providing global broadband internet coverage. Thousands of small satellites are deployed in low Earth orbit (LEO), enabling high-speed internet access even in remote areas. However, the rapid increase in satellites raises concerns about space debris and the potential for collisions, which can lead to further debris creation and endanger other spacecraft. Additionally, the sheer number of Starlink satellites can affect astronomical observations by increasing light pollution. Proper deorbiting plans and international coordination are essential to mitigate these challenges and ensure long-term sustainability in space.
Starlink is a satellite constellation developed by SpaceX with the aim of providing global broadband internet coverage. Thousands of small satellites are deployed in low Earth orbit (LEO), enabling high-speed internet access even in remote areas. However, the rapid increase in satellites raises concerns about space debris and the potential for collisions, which can lead to further debris creation and endanger other spacecraft. Additionally, the sheer number of Starlink satellites can affect astronomical observations by increasing light pollution. Proper deorbiting plans and international coordination are essential to mitigate these challenges and ensure long-term sustainability in space.
Physical Characteristics
Length
0.3
Diameter
4.1
Span
29
Dry Mass
700
Launch Mass
730
Shape
Box + pan
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Starlink Group 6-7-14
Purpose
Communication
Mission
Communication
Manufacturer
SPXS
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Starlink V2M
Configuration
Starlink v2 Mini
Motor
Argon ion thrusters
Equipment
Ku/Ka/E-band payload, optical inter-satellite link
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
Satellite Articles
View All Posts »Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
NASA Expands SpaceX Crew Contract as Boeing Stalls | KeepTrack X Report
NASA adds crew missions to SpaceX's contract as Boeing Starliner certification stalls, while Falcon 9 hits its 60th orbital launch of 2026.
Artemis 2 Tracker - Follow Orion's Flight Path in 3D
Follow the complete Artemis II mission in KeepTrack's 3D tracker. Replay Orion's full flight path from launch through the lunar flyby to Pacific splashdown, and scrub to any moment of the ten-day mission.
Vulcan Booster Anomaly Under Scrutiny After USSF-87 Launch | KeepTrack Space Brief
ULA Vulcan faces scrutiny after solid booster anomaly on USSF-87 mission. ThinKom wins portable satellite ground station contract. Space Force starts Project Hecate for GPS past 2040.
Blue Origin Targets New Glenn Return Before Year-End After Pad Explosion | KeepTrack Space Brief
Blue Origin aiming for 2nd New Glenn launch by end of 2026 after LC-36 pad explosion at Cape Canaveral. Repair timeline still unclear; mission critical for national security payloads.
X Report 24 Mar 2025
SpaceX sets a rocket re-use record, Starlink satellites continue to proliferate, and Botswana launches its first national satellite.
Shimizu's Luna Ring - The Plan to Wrap the Moon in Solar Panels
A 220-year-old Japanese construction company wants to build an 11,000-kilometer belt of solar cells around the lunar equator and beam the power back to Earth. The physics checks out. Everything else is another story.
The Day We Lost Apollo 1
Fifty-eight years ago, a tragic fire during a routine test transformed spacecraft design and created the foundation of modern spaceflight safety culture