The Day Opportunity Changed Our View of Mars Forever
Twenty-one years ago, a golf cart-sized rover bounced to a stop inside a small crater on Mars, beginning one of the most remarkable chapters in space exploration history
Launch Date
March 31, 2024
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC40
Launch Vehicle
NORAD ID
59363
International Designator
2024-060R
Epoch
Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:58:50 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
43.00°
Right Ascension
225.52°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
278.55°
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-31553
Alternative Name
Starlink 31553
Type
Status
Owner
SPXS
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 59363U 24060R 26201.04085910 -.00000374 00000+0 -40537-5 0 9995
2 59363 43.0008 225.5239 0001114 278.5526 81.5200 15.27576172130387
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 6-45-16
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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Twenty-one years ago, a golf cart-sized rover bounced to a stop inside a small crater on Mars, beginning one of the most remarkable chapters in space exploration history
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