Space Brief 31 Dec 2025
Notable space events as the year closes: China's record orbital launches, Vandenberg's new launch site, Rocket Lab's achievements, and urgent MAVEN recovery efforts.
Launch Date
June 5, 2026
Launch Site
WSC
Launch Pad
LC1
Launch Vehicle
Chang Zheng 8
NORAD ID
69405
International Designator
2026-125E
Epoch
Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:27:28 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
88.99°
Right Ascension
276.87°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
65.35°
Period
103.88 min
Mean Motion
13.86 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Name
QIANFAN-187
Alternative Name
N/A
Type
Status
Owner
YUANX
Country
China
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 69405U 26125E 26200.01908418 -.01981504 00000+0 -18387+1 0 9997
2 69405 88.9939 276.8709 0019665 65.3471 294.9745 13.86169466 6190
Source: Celestrak
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.
Length
0.3
Diameter
3.0
Span
10.0
Dry Mass
267
Launch Mass
267
Shape
Box+pan
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Qianfan
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
SECM
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Qianfan
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Notable space events as the year closes: China's record orbital launches, Vandenberg's new launch site, Rocket Lab's achievements, and urgent MAVEN recovery efforts.
FCC approves 7,500 additional Starlink Gen2 satellites. Space Force awards SpaceX $739M for nine national security launches. NASA plans Crew-11 medical evacuation from ISS on January 14.
SpaceX flew a Falcon 9 booster for a record 35th time on July 10, deploying 29 Starlink satellites as direct-to-cell tech expands to pet collars.
Today's highlights include the certification of ULA's Vulcan rocket for national security missions, developments in nuclear timekeeping for GPS systems, and updates on the Space Force's new warfighting framework.
Sixty years ago, Frank Borman and James Lovell launched aboard Gemini 7 for a grueling 14-day mission that would prove humans could endure the journey to the moon and achieve the first true rendezvous in space
The UK's orbital ambitions rest on a remote Shetland island. How SaxaVord became Europe's first fully licensed vertical launch spaceport - and why, despite being ready for years, it's still waiting for a rocket that works.
Understanding the unique orbital sweet spot that keeps satellites perfectly positioned above Earth
Today's highlights include Crew-8's return amid weather delays, new space tourism announcements by Deep Blue Aerospace, and Europe's efforts to combat space debris. Plus, another successful SpaceX launch and the ESA backed Zero Debris Charter gains international traction.