Space Brief 13 Feb 2025
Today's brief covers significant advancements in space satellite launches, military spending impacts on space, and notable developments from the Space Force and SpaceX.
HEAD-3B (57627)
COSPAR: 2023-121B | Alt Name: Jiaotong-7
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
August 14, 2023
Launch Site
XICLF
Launch Pad
LC4
Launch Vehicle
Kuaizhou-1A
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
57627
International Designator
2023-121B
Epoch
Sun, 19 Jul 2026 21:31:30 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
45.00°
Right Ascension
143.83°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
68.53°
Period
98.52 min
Mean Motion
14.62 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
HEAD-3B
Alternative Name
Jiaotong-7
Type
Payload
Status
Operational
Owner
HEAD
Country
China
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 57627U 23121B 26200.89688030 .00000186 00000+0 69249-4 0 9996
2 57627 45.0017 143.8265 0004709 68.5350 291.6010 14.61621271156453
Source: Celestrak
Summary
HEAD-3B (also known as Jiaotong-7) is a satellite with NORAD ID 57627 and OBJECT_ID 2023-121B, manufactured by IMICAS for the owner HEAD. It was launched on August 14, 2023, from Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XICLF), Launch Pad LC4, using a Kuaizhou-1A launch vehicle. The satellite measures 0.5 meters in length and has a diameter of 0.2 meters with a span of 2 meters when its solar arrays are deployed. It weighs 40 kilograms both at launch and dry mass. Equipped with a high-performance AIS-receiver, HEAD-3B is designed for communication M2M/IoT applications and traffic monitoring. Its power supply consists of two deployable solar arrays and batteries, and it is expected to have a lifetime of 2-3 years in orbit. The satellite has a box shape with two panels and was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.
Physical Characteristics
Length
0.5
Diameter
0.2
Span
2
Dry Mass
40
Launch Mass
40
Shape
Box + 2 Pan
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
HEAD-3B
Purpose
Communication M2M/IoT, traffic monitoring
Mission
Communication M2M/IoT, traffic monitoring
Manufacturer
IMICAS
Life Expectancy
2-3 years
Bus
WN100
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
high performance AIS-receiver
Power System
2 deployable 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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