Space Brief 30 Dec 2025
Today's briefing covers Rocket Lab's plans following a record-breaking year, efforts to recover NASA's MAVEN orbiter, and the potential relocation of space shuttle Discovery.
Launch Date
August 6, 2024
Launch Site
TSC
Launch Pad
TYSC -
Launch Vehicle
Chang Zheng 6A
NORAD ID
64640
International Designator
2024-140AEE
Epoch
Sun, 19 Jul 2026 03:25:17 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
89.00°
Right Ascension
271.27°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
78.04°
Period
101.13 min
Mean Motion
14.24 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Name
CZ-6A DEB
Alternative Name
N/A
Type
Status
Owner
CNSA
Country
China
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 64640U 24140AEE 26200.14256006 .00001200 00000+0 51114-3 0 9992
2 64640 89.0046 271.2699 0048668 78.0398 282.6245 14.23929946 94991
Source: Celestrak
Length
0.0
Diameter
0.0
Span
0.0
Dry Mass
0
Launch Mass
0
Shape
N/A
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Unknown
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
SAST
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Unknown
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Today's briefing covers Rocket Lab's plans following a record-breaking year, efforts to recover NASA's MAVEN orbiter, and the potential relocation of space shuttle Discovery.
On April 25, 1990, the Space Shuttle Discovery's robotic arm lifted a 11,110-kilogram barrel of mirrors and instruments out of the payload bay and released it into orbit. Six weeks later, the first images came back badly out of focus. The Hubble Space Telescope had been ground to the wrong prescription, and America had just spent $2.5 billion on what the press was calling a 'technoturkey.'
Explore the latest in satellite communications with Cubic's new terminals, strategic acquisitions by Firefly, China's IoT satellite achievements, and key military updates.
SpaceX continues to push forward with its ambitious plans as the FAA investigates Starship debris reports, while Starlink maintains robust satellite operations.
ESA's Proba-3 spacecraft lost contact last month following on-orbit anomaly. Mission requires both satellites in precise formation for solar corona science. Recovery status uncertain.
SpaceX continues strong momentum in June with successful satellite launches, a new service from Telstra, and updates on upcoming missions. Key developments are shaping the future of both space travel and satellite communications.
SpaceX successfully launches 21 Starlink satellites, nearing milestone of 7,000 in orbit. Boeing and Airbus consider divesting from space, impacting industry dynamics.
Starship Flight 12 summary: V3 reached space May 22 and survived reentry despite one Raptor vacuum engine shutdown, with most test objectives complete.