Space Brief 19 Apr 2025
Today's brief covers SpaceX's potential government contract, the future of US Space Command headquarters, an auction record for Neil Armstrong's watch, and the volcanic history of Mars.
Launch Date
January 17, 1976
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC17B
Launch Vehicle
Delta 2914
NORAD ID
08585
International Designator
1976-004A
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 04:44:03 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
3.89°
Right Ascension
271.73°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
272.81°
Period
1436.94 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
CTS
Alternative Name
Hermes
Type
Status
Owner
CRC
Country
Canada
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 08585U 76004A 26185.19726462 .00000066 00000-0 00000-0 0 9994
2 08585 3.8860 271.7278 0014136 272.8138 42.2181 1.00213138122465
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
1.9
Diameter
1.8
Span
16.5
Dry Mass
311
Launch Mass
336
Shape
Box + 2 Pan
Radar Cross Section
3.1622
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
CTS
Purpose
Communication, Experimental
Mission
Communication, Experimental
Manufacturer
CRC
Life Expectancy
2 years (design); 3.75 years (achieved)
Bus
CTS
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Star-27
Equipment
2 Ku-band transponders
Power System
2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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