X Report 2 May 2025
SpaceX successfully launched 28 more Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral, marking another milestone in its satellite constellation expansion.
Launch Date
September 26, 2024
Launch Site
Tanegashima Space Center
Launch Pad
Yoshinobu Launch Complex
Launch Vehicle
H-IIA 202
NORAD ID
61439
International Designator
2024-176A
Decay Date
Unknown
Name
IGS R-8
Alternative Name
IGS Radar-8
Type
Status
Owner
Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center (CSICE)
Country
Japan
Constellation
Information Gathering Satellite (IGS) series
Related Satellites
Major Events
Launched on September 26, 2024; entered operational service shortly after launch.
Length
3
Diameter
4
Span
16.5
Dry Mass
1000
Launch Mass
1500
Shape
Box-shaped main body with two deployable solar panels.
Radar Cross Section
Not specified
Visual Magnitude
Not specified
Color
Standard spacecraft materials with thermal insulation.
Material Composition
Constructed using lightweight aerospace materials, including aluminum and composite structures.
Payload
Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) system capable of sub-meter resolution imaging.
Purpose
Reconnaissance and environmental monitoring using radar imaging.
Mission
IGS R-8 is part of Japan's Information Gathering Satellite program, aimed at providing high-resolution radar imagery for intelligence gathering and environmental monitoring.
Manufacturer
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO)
Life Expectancy
Designed for a mission duration of approximately 5 years.
Bus
IGS-R
Configuration
Reconnaissance Satellite
Motor
Not applicable
Equipment
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for high-resolution Earth observation.
Power System
Powered by solar arrays generating sufficient energy to operate the SAR and support systems.
ADCS
Three-axis stabilized with precision pointing capabilities.
Transmitter Frequency
Specific frequencies classified; operates in radar bands.
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