What does the [-] symbol mean in satellite names?

Space Exploration Asked by Swike on September 29, 2021

Some satellites in the databases have this "[-]" mark at the end. For example "IRIDIUM 39 [-]" and "GLOBALSTAR M038 [-]", which in databases like www.space-track.org or the ones managed by satview.org and celestrack are presented with that symbol.

What does it mean? Does it have something to do with flaring?

artificial satellite satellite flare

One Answer

[-] means that the satellite is nonoperational. It's one of the eight "Operational Status Codes".

+   Operational
-   Nonoperational
P   Partially Operational
B   Backup/Standby
S   Spare
X   Extended Mission
D   Decayed
?   Unknown

More about the SATCAT format is documented here.

Correct answer by Camille Goudeseune on September 29, 2021

What does the [-] symbol mean in satellite names?

One Answer

Add your own answers!

Related Questions

Fat as hydrocarbon rocket fuel?

What to do with money?

Methane or LOX tank at Boca Chica

Why does the Deep Space Atomic Clock have such a short mission?

Will there be a team of planetary scientists advising the Emirates Mars Mission team?

Do scientist who study martian geology typically use the term areology?

Why do you need a heat shield on Mars entry if the atmosphere is so thin?

Performance of a pumpless liquid rocket engine

Would an airship-launched rocket be practical?

Can Chemical Engineer work on something related to space?

If someone built a vacuum tunnel through the atmosphere, could you have an orbit with a sea level perigee?

How much does launch costs have to come down to make chemical fuel deep space probes feasible?

What does the [-] symbol mean in satellite names?

Specifications on ISS EVA suit cameras

Were any other Space Shuttles ever planned?

Why aren’t there HiRISE observation footprints near the Martian poles?

Was solar newbie Solar Orbiter able to get “closer” to the Sun than Parker Solar Probe so quickly?

How does the Solar Orbiter take images so close to the sun without melting its camera?

How long could an oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere last on the Moon?

How ‘space ready’ was space shuttle prototype Enterprise?

Ask a Question