A new version of the UCS satellite database has been released which includes launches through May 31, 2013. There are currently 1071 active satellites in the database.
The changes to this version of the database include:
- The addition of 46 satellites to the database.
- The deletion of 19 satellites.
- The addition of and corrections to some satellite data.
One of this quarter’s additions is the Sapphire satellite, launched February 25, 2013, and Canada’s first operational military satellite. The small (150 kg), low-earth orbiting satellite uses an optical telescope to observe satellites and debris in orbits from medium earth orbits out to geosynchronous orbits, reportedly down to 10 cm in size. It will share these data with the US Space Surveillance Network.
Source: MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd