Orbital Focus

For those genuinely interested in the finer points of new launches & activities on orbit. Curated by Robert Christy. BlueSky: (at)

[Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus]

Kuaizhou 11 launch, Jiuquan, Jun 17

Finally, nearly 25 hrs after lift-off, we had a launch announcement

Followed a day of rumours including launch failure, satellite failure and payload failing to separate

https://t.co/RPHpjUeB56

[Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus]

@planet4589 @S4S_SDA Crikey - I didn't notice the publication date

My system had auto added it to the table so I saw only the epoch and assumed it had been there from around June 7…

[Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus]

Three launches today (probably) and some more weird and wonderful shenanigans from Space-Track with orbit data for one of them
https://t.co/RPHpjUeB56

[Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus]

@planet4589 @Space_EngGG "Not following the usual rules" wouldn't come as a surprise but it raises the question of whether any earlier HASTE flights resulted in stage 2 reaching orbital velocity without getting catalogued because it only survived for a short time

[Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus]

@planet4589 @Space_EngGG Rocket Lab's says the HASTE version of the kick stage provides the push to hypervelocity within the atmosphere on a sub-orbital launch

I'm suggesting this one acted as a retro-pack to achieve the same effect - but it assumes S-T has named the objects correctly

[Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus]

Electron launch from Wallops, Jun 11

This was the 'missing' launch that bumped Zhuque 2 up to 2026-132

It appears to have delivered a payload back into the atmosphere for a hypersonic flight test
https://t.co/tH4A5U9kvq

[Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus]

@Space_EngGG @planet4589 You can always "expect a NOTAM" but it doesn't always follow that one will be issued…

My take on the mission
https://t.co/tH4A5U9kvq

[Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus]

H-3 launch from Tanegashima Jun 12

My take on allocation of IDs to sats based on orbit data issued so far and JAXA info

Space-Track has the launch number as 2026-132 rather than 131 but I'm sure someone will tell me what I might have missed
https://t.co/dg8cFIXhHW

[Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus]

Zhuque 2E launch, Jun 9 from Jiuquan

Space-Track reports the upper stage disintegrated about nine mins after releasing its payloads

Event probably coincided with planned re-entry burn

No indication whether either satellite was damaged

More detail
https://t.co/cQUHAION1g

[Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus]

Today's (Jun 11) CZ 5 launch from Wenchang carrying TJS 25
https://t.co/mgjm0fbngP

[Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus]

China Spaceplane
https://t.co/t9jUBCupE0

Orbit raised by 150 metres on Jun 6

[Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus]

Falcon 9 launch, Jun 7

Two NRO Starshield sats and 21 Starlinks
https://t.co/w7qS113obP

[Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus]

HelloWorld 1 was not launched

[Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus]

Transporter 16 launch, Mar 30

The latest addition to the growing list of objects is Camẽos, released from ION SCV 19 during May

Around 20 payloads still have no catalogue number or designation

One, 'HelloWorld 1' is a bit of a mystery

https://t.co/BLMP14sgKl

[Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus]

Rassvet launch - Mar 3

Fourteen sats still raising orbit:
Six currently between 420 & 470 km km
Eight between 320 & 330 km

One sat distinctly 'dead' & will re-enter today

Another sat may be dead too - no thruster activity since May 6
https://t.co/2oxJ9TETxP

[Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus]

Cosmos 2615 - 2618, launch Apr 23

Can be described as "ultra LEO" sats - frequent or near-continuous thrust maintains orbit height very precisely near 300 km or below
https://t.co/wrvABYw3he

Other examples
https://t.co/TYF6I9HXML (similar mission)

and
https://t.co/HR7kqcvgjz

[Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus]

TJS 24, launched May 26

Has arrived on station in GEO at 90° east

https://t.co/830KtVwS5C

[Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus]

@RS_blog_hu They are five of the satellites on my plot

Have you seen any credible evidence of the Ukraine connection to that particular satellite?

Similarly, are you sure that the ICEYE sat is still active?

[Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus]

Russia launch, 2026-083, April 16

083B stands out because its orbit plane is nearly 10° of RA away from the others, as evidenced by the LTDN - however, none of the orbits are truly sun-synchronous

https://t.co/XfCht1Bq0W

[Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus]

@robert_savitsky On what do you base your analysis?

[Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus]

Rassvet launch - Mar 3

Has split into two groups, heading for multiple orbit planes

Six sats raising orbit, now at 360-400 km

Nine 'parked' below 320 km

One 'dead' - could it be carrying the OZBP payload that ceased transmitting after 3 days?

https://t.co/2oxJ9TETxP

[Orbital Focus @OrbitalFocus]

Busy week - eight launches:
https://t.co/SwLbWl6L7g