Space Brief 26 Apr 2025
Today's brief covers major developments including the introduction of BAHA drones, increased defense spending by Estonia, and consequential announcements on military budgets impacting space-related activities.
KUIPER-00499 (68881)
COSPAR: 2026-095T | Alt Name: N/A
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
April 28, 2026
Launch Site
Launch Pad
SLC41
Launch Vehicle
Atlas V 551
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
68881
International Designator
2026-095T
Epoch
Sun, 19 Jul 2026 20:00:01 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
51.90°
Right Ascension
89.23°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
52.94°
Period
96.53 min
Mean Motion
14.92 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Explore in the Catalog
Basic Satellite Info
Name
KUIPER-00499
Alternative Name
N/A
Type
Payload
Status
Unknown
Owner
KUIP
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 68881U 26095T 26200.83335647 -.00061910 00000+0 -61011-2 0 9991
2 68881 51.8964 89.2279 0007169 52.9391 304.2198 14.91809103 3607
Source: Celestrak
Summary
Apologies, there is no summary for this satellite yet. I am working to generate these for every object in the catalog, but it is going to take time.
Physical Characteristics
Length
1.8
Diameter
0.7
Span
5.0
Dry Mass
490
Launch Mass
490
Shape
Box + 2 pan
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Kuiper LA06-18
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
KUIP
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Kuiper
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Map
Next Pass
Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)
Start Azimuth
Max Elevation
Stop Azimuth
Time Until
Pass Duration
Satellite Articles
View All Posts »Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
The Satellite That Found 22 Photons and Changed Astronomy
On April 27, 1961, a Scout rocket lifted a 37-kilogram NASA satellite into orbit from Wallops Island carrying the first serious instrument for detecting cosmic gamma rays. Explorer 11 operated for seven months before its tape recorder failed. In that time it registered 22 gamma-ray photons - a pitiful number by modern standards, but enough to launch an entire branch of astronomy.
Blue Origin Rebuilds New Glenn Launch Pad, Space Brief 19 Jun 2026
Blue Origin launch pad rebuild begins at Cape Canaveral after the New Glenn explosion, targeting return to flight by end of 2026. SpaceX flies NROL-179.
X Report 13 Nov 2024
SpaceX launches more Starlink satellites as Starship prepares for full stack testing, amidst Musk's new governmental role.
Space Brief 28 Oct 2025
Today's brief covers China's Gaofen-14 satellite launch, Europe's advancements in asteroid defense through GomSpace, and Russia's controversial Burevestnik missile test.
Starlink Constellation Size Nears 10,000, X Report 16 Mar 2026
Starlink constellation size in March 2026: 9,996 satellites in orbit and 9,986 working from 11,504 launched, as SpaceX deorbits legacy V1.0 hardware.
GPS III SV-10 Moves to Falcon 9 After Vulcan Grounded | KeepTrack X Report
SpaceX claims a 2nd GPS III launch as ULA's Vulcan investigation stalls, while ESA charters a Crew Dragon ISS mission and Starlink hits 30 launches in 2026.
Starlink Mobile US Plan, Ship 40 Static Fire, X Report 27 Jun 2026
Starlink mobile service is planned for the US as SpaceX fires Ship 40's single Raptor in a prelaunch test, with 10,689 Starlink satellites working.