Space Brief 16 Dec 2024
Today's briefing covers the ULA's military application for Vulcan's upper stage, FAA's efforts to expedite launch licensing, and a fascinating flyby of Mercury by BepiColombo.
Launch Date
April 18, 2024
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC40
Launch Vehicle
NORAD ID
59553
International Designator
2024-074V
Epoch
Sun, 19 Jul 2026 15:11:56 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
43.00°
Right Ascension
318.35°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
264.80°
Period
94.27 min
Mean Motion
15.28 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Name
STARLINK-31723
Alternative Name
Starlink 31723
Type
Status
Owner
SPXS
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 59553U 24074V 26200.63329544 .00000810 00000+0 38950-4 0 9997
2 59553 43.0011 318.3516 0000981 264.7954 95.2786 15.27575765126196
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 6-52-20
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
Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Today's briefing covers the ULA's military application for Vulcan's upper stage, FAA's efforts to expedite launch licensing, and a fascinating flyby of Mercury by BepiColombo.
A partial breakup incident involving a Starlink satellite raised concerns, while SpaceX continued its ambitious projects and launches.
Kratos awarded $447 million Space Force contract for Resilient Missile Warning Tracking ground ops center in Medium Earth Orbit, shifting missile detection away from vulnerable GEO satellites.
Today's top space events include a new military satellite launch by York Space, advancements in phased array antennas by Space Force, and the debut of Denmark's Arctic satellite. Also covered are developments in Starlink's services in Vietnam.
NASA's SLS and Orion spacecraft rolled back to Launch Complex 39B, targeting April 1 for first crewed lunar flyby with four astronauts aboard.
Today's brief covers a historic milestone for China's space program, the decoding of a simulated alien signal, innovative solutions to address satellite air pollution, and industry shifts driven by major investments and contracts.
Today's briefing covers the Space Force's AI integration, new naming conventions for satellites, and updates on military and satellite acquisition strategies.
Twelve years ago, South Korea successfully launched a satellite using its own launch vehicle and facilities for the first time, marking a crucial milestone in its journey to space independence