Space Brief 1 Dec 2024
Today's highlights: China's Long March 12 boosts lunar ambitions, SpaceX supports NRO's satellite infrastructure, Firefly prepares lunar mission, and NASA partners with SpaceX for Titan exploration.
Launch Date
December 29, 2024
Launch Site
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Launch Pad
SLC-40
Launch Vehicle
NORAD ID
62454
International Designator
2024-252A
Epoch
Thu, 16 Jul 2026 23:53:35 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
9.14°
Right Ascension
326.33°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
256.75°
Period
1435.87 min
Mean Motion
1.00 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
Astranis UtilitySat
Alternative Name
UtilitySat
Type
Status
Owner
Astranis
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
Launched on December 29, 2024, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket; designed for multiple relocations to serve various missions.
1 62454U 24252A 26197.99554528 -.00000142 00000+0 00000+0 0 9994
2 62454 9.1369 326.3258 7536513 256.7459 17.9070 01.00287842 5728
Source: Celestrak
Length
1.5
Diameter
1.5
Span
10
Dry Mass
400
Launch Mass
400
Shape
Box with deployable solar panels
Radar Cross Section
0.122
Visual Magnitude
5
Color
Silver
Material Composition
Aluminum and composite materials
Payload
Astranis Block 2-1
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
To provide flexible, on-demand broadband connectivity for various applications, including disaster relief, bridge capacity, and surge needs.
Manufacturer
Astranis
Life Expectancy
Designed for multiple relocations within the geostationary belt over its operational life.
Bus
MicroGEO
Configuration
UtilitySat
Motor
Dual-propulsion system comprising a chemical monopropellant system and an electric ion thruster.
Equipment
Equipped with a proprietary ultra-wideband software-defined radio, enabling flexible frequency allocation across Ku, Ka, and Q/V bands.
Power System
Powered by solar arrays, with energy storage in onboard batteries.
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Ku, Ka, and Q/V bands
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