Space Brief 26 Mar 2025
Today's briefing covers the US Space Force's pivotal journeys, emerging hypersonic weaponry, and innovative drone technologies, with a special satellite update featuring Jackal X-1L-001.
Launch Date
April 23, 1974
Launch Site
PLMSC
Launch Pad
LC132/2
Launch Vehicle
Kosmos 11K65M
NORAD ID
07266
International Designator
1974-024B
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 03:13:10 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
74.02°
Right Ascension
248.06°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
141.17°
Period
113.76 min
Mean Motion
12.66 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Name
COSMOS 642
Alternative Name
Kosmos-642
Type
Status
Owner
GUKOSR
Country
USSR
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 07266U 74024B 26185.13415336 -.00000001 00000-0 79178-4 0 9994
2 07266 74.0167 248.0560 0102977 141.1699 244.8119 12.65841256411858
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
0.8
Diameter
0.8
Span
0.8
Dry Mass
60
Launch Mass
60
Shape
Poly
Radar Cross Section
0.729
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Strela-1M Blok 09 No. 2
Purpose
Military Communication
Mission
Military Communication
Manufacturer
OKB10
Life Expectancy
6 months
Bus
Strela-1 11F625
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Solar cells, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Today's briefing covers the US Space Force's pivotal journeys, emerging hypersonic weaponry, and innovative drone technologies, with a special satellite update featuring Jackal X-1L-001.
SpaceX ignited all 33 next-gen Raptor V3 engines on the Super Heavy booster at Starbase, Texas, marking a critical milestone toward the next Starship flight.
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.
SpaceX achieves a remarkable milestone with its 50th Falcon 9 launch of 2025, while Starlink continues to expand, facing competition from China's megaconstellation efforts.
York Space raises $629M in IPO to expand satellite manufacturing. NRO declassifies Cold War-era JUMPSEAT spy satellites. Lockheed to boost THAAD interceptor production from 96 to 400 per year.
Starlink satellite count 2026: SpaceX tops 10,000 active satellites, 10,037 working of 11,558 launched, under seven years after first launch.
Fourteen years ago, Space Shuttle Discovery thundered into orbit one last time, carrying a robot astronaut and capping a remarkable 27-year career that revolutionized space exploration
Today's brief highlights the successful landing of a private moon mission by Firefly Aerospace, a new simulator for the Spanish Air and Space Force, and the anticipated launch by Europe's Ariane 6. Plus, our Satellite Spotlight features the COSMOS 2484.