Space Brief 17 Apr 2025
Today's brief covers the redeployment of decommissioned missile technologies to orbital duties, Germany's plans for a sovereign communications network, and fresh developments in hypersonic testing through Rocket Lab.
Launch Date
March 25, 2024
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC40
Launch Vehicle
NORAD ID
59336
International Designator
2024-057S
Epoch
Sun, 19 Jul 2026 06:07:36 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
43.00°
Right Ascension
163.77°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
282.34°
Period
94.27 min
Mean Motion
15.28 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
STARLINK-31596
Alternative Name
Starlink 31596
Type
Status
Owner
SPXS
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 59336U 24057S 26200.25528236 .00000512 00000+0 28112-4 0 9992
2 59336 43.0008 163.7721 0000915 282.3424 77.7325 15.27578316129963
Source: Celestrak
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
Payload
Starlink Group 6-46-17
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
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