stromgade
@stromgade.bsky.social
News about Earth Observation. Author of http://satelliteobservation.net and http://therestlesstechnophile.com . Views my own.
Reposted by stromgade
Hey Martians, did I mention we now also have a video of epic Phobos passing over a Martian dust storm near Pavonis Mons? 🌪️🌋🥔
Video & full info: flic.kr/p/2rNN8wk
Credit: ESA/DLR/FUBerlin/AndreaLuck CC BY
@esa.int Mars Express HRSC
300 MP Photo quoted below
Easy zoom: easyzoom.com/image/674026
Video & full info: flic.kr/p/2rNN8wk
Credit: ESA/DLR/FUBerlin/AndreaLuck CC BY
@esa.int Mars Express HRSC
300 MP Photo quoted below
Easy zoom: easyzoom.com/image/674026
December 27, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Hey Martians, did I mention we now also have a video of epic Phobos passing over a Martian dust storm near Pavonis Mons? 🌪️🌋🥔
Video & full info: flic.kr/p/2rNN8wk
Credit: ESA/DLR/FUBerlin/AndreaLuck CC BY
@esa.int Mars Express HRSC
300 MP Photo quoted below
Easy zoom: easyzoom.com/image/674026
Video & full info: flic.kr/p/2rNN8wk
Credit: ESA/DLR/FUBerlin/AndreaLuck CC BY
@esa.int Mars Express HRSC
300 MP Photo quoted below
Easy zoom: easyzoom.com/image/674026
Reposted by stromgade
It appears the Russian Defense Ministry's Olimp-K (Luch, 2014-058A) sat has finally been retired, after visting 30 separate geostationary locations during its suspected eavesdropping mission. The orbit was raised to the graveyard from Oct 7 to Oct 22. The plot shows the sat's orbit height history
December 28, 2025 at 2:13 AM
It appears the Russian Defense Ministry's Olimp-K (Luch, 2014-058A) sat has finally been retired, after visting 30 separate geostationary locations during its suspected eavesdropping mission. The orbit was raised to the graveyard from Oct 7 to Oct 22. The plot shows the sat's orbit height history
Reposted by stromgade
Initial TLEs now out for BlueBird 6 and the LVM3 upper stage, confirming 506 x 520 km x 53.0 deg orbit for BB6. China's FY-4C metsat and upper stage also cataloged in geotransfer 191 x 35844 km x 28.5 deg.
December 27, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Initial TLEs now out for BlueBird 6 and the LVM3 upper stage, confirming 506 x 520 km x 53.0 deg orbit for BB6. China's FY-4C metsat and upper stage also cataloged in geotransfer 191 x 35844 km x 28.5 deg.
Reposted by stromgade
Tory Bruno to lead new Blue Origin national security unit
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/12/tory-bruno-to-lead-new-blue-origin-national-security-unit/
Tory Bruno to lead new Blue Origin national security unit
The company's announcement did not explain how the new National Security Group would change, if at all, Blue Origin's current organization and/or practices under its national security unit headed since August by Tom Martin.
breakingdefense.com
December 26, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Tory Bruno to lead new Blue Origin national security unit
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/12/tory-bruno-to-lead-new-blue-origin-national-security-unit/
Reposted by stromgade
Along with @duitsmanms.bsky.social and @dexeve.bsky.social, I think we found the first deployment site in Belarus of the the Oreshnik IRBM. 🧵
December 26, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Along with @duitsmanms.bsky.social and @dexeve.bsky.social, I think we found the first deployment site in Belarus of the the Oreshnik IRBM. 🧵
Reposted by stromgade
December 26, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Reposted by stromgade
Two launches for China within the last day. A Long March 8A lifted off at 2326 UTC Dec. 25 from Hainan carrying Guowang sats, & at 1607 UTC today (Dec. 26), a Long March 3B lifted off from Xichang carrying the Fengyun-4C weather sat. 90 launches in 2025. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/jXFhqkTV-y...
December 26, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Two launches for China within the last day. A Long March 8A lifted off at 2326 UTC Dec. 25 from Hainan carrying Guowang sats, & at 1607 UTC today (Dec. 26), a Long March 3B lifted off from Xichang carrying the Fengyun-4C weather sat. 90 launches in 2025. mp.weixin.qq.com/s/jXFhqkTV-y...
Reposted by stromgade
Obzor-R (2025-310A) and Soyuz third stage cataloged in a 217 x 633 km x 98.0 deg, 06:00 LTDN sun-synch orbit. For some odd reason still no @S4S_SDA TLEs for 2025-309 (BlueBird/LVM3)
December 26, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Obzor-R (2025-310A) and Soyuz third stage cataloged in a 217 x 633 km x 98.0 deg, 06:00 LTDN sun-synch orbit. For some odd reason still no @S4S_SDA TLEs for 2025-309 (BlueBird/LVM3)
Reposted by stromgade
December 25, 1965.
A rare satellite image showing LC-39B still under construction at Kennedy Space Center. Taken by a KH-4A CORONA spy satellite.
A rare satellite image showing LC-39B still under construction at Kennedy Space Center. Taken by a KH-4A CORONA spy satellite.
December 25, 2025 at 10:29 PM
December 25, 1965.
A rare satellite image showing LC-39B still under construction at Kennedy Space Center. Taken by a KH-4A CORONA spy satellite.
A rare satellite image showing LC-39B still under construction at Kennedy Space Center. Taken by a KH-4A CORONA spy satellite.
Reposted by stromgade
A postgrad analysis of laser weapons aboard Navy ships:
files01.core.ac.uk/download/pdf...
A 100 kW beam would needed to defeat a small boat at 1 km, rising to 1.6 MW against a larger threat with a proper hull at 2 km, mainly due to the difficult marine environment the laser has to traverse
files01.core.ac.uk/download/pdf...
A 100 kW beam would needed to defeat a small boat at 1 km, rising to 1.6 MW against a larger threat with a proper hull at 2 km, mainly due to the difficult marine environment the laser has to traverse
December 26, 2025 at 4:37 AM
A postgrad analysis of laser weapons aboard Navy ships:
files01.core.ac.uk/download/pdf...
A 100 kW beam would needed to defeat a small boat at 1 km, rising to 1.6 MW against a larger threat with a proper hull at 2 km, mainly due to the difficult marine environment the laser has to traverse
files01.core.ac.uk/download/pdf...
A 100 kW beam would needed to defeat a small boat at 1 km, rising to 1.6 MW against a larger threat with a proper hull at 2 km, mainly due to the difficult marine environment the laser has to traverse
Reposted by stromgade
Missile defense was, of course, a big topic as well. Here is Putin in 2008 (I'd disagree with this logic, but it's a standard argument). What's interesting, the "barbaric" stuff was indeed under development. There is a photo of Status-6/Poseidon from 2009 russianforces.org/blog/2016/04...
December 26, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Missile defense was, of course, a big topic as well. Here is Putin in 2008 (I'd disagree with this logic, but it's a standard argument). What's interesting, the "barbaric" stuff was indeed under development. There is a photo of Status-6/Poseidon from 2009 russianforces.org/blog/2016/04...
Reposted by stromgade
2/x
Identified by Mike as the classified payload USA 554 from the USSF-106 launch in August.
Identified by Mike as the classified payload USA 554 from the USSF-106 launch in August.
December 25, 2025 at 6:09 PM
2/x
Identified by Mike as the classified payload USA 554 from the USSF-106 launch in August.
Identified by Mike as the classified payload USA 554 from the USSF-106 launch in August.
Reposted by stromgade
Captured a UNID near the classified geosynchronous satellite Mentor 6 yesterday.
Probably a commercial satellite being moved not yet updated in the catalogue.
Probably a commercial satellite being moved not yet updated in the catalogue.
December 25, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Captured a UNID near the classified geosynchronous satellite Mentor 6 yesterday.
Probably a commercial satellite being moved not yet updated in the catalogue.
Probably a commercial satellite being moved not yet updated in the catalogue.
Reposted by stromgade
The US declassified exchanges between US President Bush and Putin from 2008 in which Putin already called Ukraine an „artificial“ state, clearly denying its right for existence.
December 25, 2025 at 2:10 PM
The US declassified exchanges between US President Bush and Putin from 2008 in which Putin already called Ukraine an „artificial“ state, clearly denying its right for existence.
Reposted by stromgade
“In all these movements, SYRACUSE 3A seems to lead and USA 324 seems to follow,” a COMSPOC spokesperson told Breaking Defense. (3/3)
December 16, 2025 at 7:20 PM
“In all these movements, SYRACUSE 3A seems to lead and USA 324 seems to follow,” a COMSPOC spokesperson told Breaking Defense. (3/3)
Reposted by stromgade
As reported by @thitch.bsky.social of @breakingdefense.com, COMSPOC observed the recent Franco-American rendezvous and proximity operations involving a GSSAP, USA 324, and France’s SYRACUSE 3A, including multiple maneuvers and close approaches. (2/3)
December 16, 2025 at 7:20 PM
As reported by @thitch.bsky.social of @breakingdefense.com, COMSPOC observed the recent Franco-American rendezvous and proximity operations involving a GSSAP, USA 324, and France’s SYRACUSE 3A, including multiple maneuvers and close approaches. (2/3)
Reposted by stromgade
France and the U.S. are practicing close-range satellite maneuvers under Operation Olympic Defender. (1/3)
breakingdefense.com/2025/12/fran...
breakingdefense.com/2025/12/fran...
France, US practice satellite moves under joint space war plan
It "illustrates France's ability to conduct dynamic and responsible operations to deter adversaries," the country's Space Command said.
breakingdefense.com
December 16, 2025 at 7:20 PM
France and the U.S. are practicing close-range satellite maneuvers under Operation Olympic Defender. (1/3)
breakingdefense.com/2025/12/fran...
breakingdefense.com/2025/12/fran...
Reposted by stromgade
The state of this reentry and descent of the Long March 12A is something to behold. But despite this failed attempt, the key point is that Chinese reusable launchers are coming.
December 23, 2025 at 8:16 PM
The state of this reentry and descent of the Long March 12A is something to behold. But despite this failed attempt, the key point is that Chinese reusable launchers are coming.
Reposted by stromgade
Not-a-falcon9.jpg
December 23, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Not-a-falcon9.jpg
Reposted by stromgade
ESA to hire 520 new staff as workforce expansion begins in 2026
MILAN — The European Space Agency announced plans to hire approximately 520 new staff members starting in 2026, following decisions approved at ESA’s 342nd Council meeting earlier this month. The recruitment will result in a net…
MILAN — The European Space Agency announced plans to hire approximately 520 new staff members starting in 2026, following decisions approved at ESA’s 342nd Council meeting earlier this month. The recruitment will result in a net…
ESA to hire 520 new staff as workforce expansion begins in 2026
MILAN — The European Space Agency announced plans to hire approximately 520 new staff members starting in 2026, following decisions approved at ESA’s 342nd Council meeting earlier this month. The recruitment will result in a net increase of about 400 staff, alongside the replacement of roughly 120 positions due to retirements. The move will bring ESA’s total staff — excluding contractors — to around 3,400 employees.
spacenews.com
December 23, 2025 at 8:42 PM
ESA to hire 520 new staff as workforce expansion begins in 2026
MILAN — The European Space Agency announced plans to hire approximately 520 new staff members starting in 2026, following decisions approved at ESA’s 342nd Council meeting earlier this month. The recruitment will result in a net…
MILAN — The European Space Agency announced plans to hire approximately 520 new staff members starting in 2026, following decisions approved at ESA’s 342nd Council meeting earlier this month. The recruitment will result in a net…
Reposted by stromgade
A classified launch from Plesetsk tomorrow is expected to carry the first Obzor radar satellite, so here is my attempt to interpret its design, along with more details and updates on the mission:
russianspaceweb.com/obzor-r1.html
russianspaceweb.com/obzor-r1.html
December 23, 2025 at 9:05 PM
A classified launch from Plesetsk tomorrow is expected to carry the first Obzor radar satellite, so here is my attempt to interpret its design, along with more details and updates on the mission:
russianspaceweb.com/obzor-r1.html
russianspaceweb.com/obzor-r1.html
Reposted by stromgade
Here is my Space Review article. 5000 words about the 1970s dispute between the CIA and the Air Force over the range of the Backfire bomber. A lot of declassified sources and a lot of shoe leather went into this.
thespacereview.com/article/5126/1
thespacereview.com/article/5126/1
December 23, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Here is my Space Review article. 5000 words about the 1970s dispute between the CIA and the Air Force over the range of the Backfire bomber. A lot of declassified sources and a lot of shoe leather went into this.
thespacereview.com/article/5126/1
thespacereview.com/article/5126/1
Reposted by stromgade
Reposted by stromgade
The Tu-136 Zvezda rocketplane, a 50s concept for a small reusbale orbital shuttle carried by a Tu-135 supersonic bomber to high altitude for a Mach 3 drop.
It would also have unmanned cargo versions of 10-20 tons, or simply deliver a warhead anywhere in the world.
It would also have unmanned cargo versions of 10-20 tons, or simply deliver a warhead anywhere in the world.
December 23, 2025 at 11:48 PM
The Tu-136 Zvezda rocketplane, a 50s concept for a small reusbale orbital shuttle carried by a Tu-135 supersonic bomber to high altitude for a Mach 3 drop.
It would also have unmanned cargo versions of 10-20 tons, or simply deliver a warhead anywhere in the world.
It would also have unmanned cargo versions of 10-20 tons, or simply deliver a warhead anywhere in the world.
Reposted by stromgade
The CZ-12A second stage has been cataloged in a 203 x 241 km x 69.7 deg orbit, confirming successful launch.
December 24, 2025 at 12:26 AM
The CZ-12A second stage has been cataloged in a 203 x 241 km x 69.7 deg orbit, confirming successful launch.