Satellite description

OPS 4029, 12930 is an American payload satellite in GEO that was launched on Sat, 31 Oct 1981 UTC via a TITAN IIIC launch vehicle from the Air Force Eastern Test Range (AFETR). Payload-class satellites include a variety of spacecraft equipped with specific instruments for various scientific and technological missions. These include communications satellites like Starlink; space stations such as the ISS; scientific satellites like the Hubble; Earth observation satellites from companies like Planet Labs, Umbra, and HawkEye 360; GPS; miniature CubeSats for education and research; and military/defense satellites.

Satellite metadata

Identifier

12930, 1981-107A

Orbit

GEO

Last TLE update

8 hours ago

Origin

NRO/SAFSP (US)

Manufacturer

TRW

Mission

Defense Sigint

Bus & Motor

VORTEX, Unknown motor

Mass

~1,000 kg wet, ~900 kg dry

Launch date (UTC)

1981-10-31 (44 years ago)

Launch vehicle

TITAN IIIC

Launch site

Air Force Eastern Test Range (AFETR)

Object type

Payload

Rocket body

Debris

Shape & HBR

Cyl + 2 Pan + 1 Dish, Unknown HBR

Radar Cross Section

13.824 m²