- Email: [email protected]
Satellite and Space Probe Launches
SATELLITE AND SPACE PROBE LAUNCHES (2 December 2008 – 26 March 2009) (The source of information for satellites 2008-062A to 2009-015A is the ESA/ESOC DISCOS database.) ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— COSPAR Designation Launch Date Launch Site Launch Vehicle Initial Orbital Elements ————————— ——————— ————————————————————————— National Name [Life Time]/ Apogee Perigee Incl. Period (Descent Date) (km) (km) (deg) (min) ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 2008 2008-062A Cosmos 2446
2 December [15 900 yr]
Plesetsk (RU)
Molinya SL-6 (A-2-e)
39189
523
62.86
704.82
0.05
1436.07
Russian military satellite, believed to be an Oko-KS early warning satellite launched by the Russian Defence Ministry satellite into an highly elliptical orbit.
2008-063A Ciel-2
10 December [>1 M yr]
Baikonur (KZ)
Proton-Briz
35786
35785
Ciel 2 is a Canadian geosynchronous communications satellite (owned by the Ciel Satellite Group) that will be used for digital TV services. Ciel 2 has 32 Ku-band transponders and is based on a Spacebus 4000 C4 model built by Thales Alenia Space. From its orbital position at 129ºW, the spacecraft will serve the Canadian and the larger North American market.
2008-064A Yaogan Weixing 5
15 December [7.1 yr]
Taiyuan (CN)
CZ-4B
492
480
97.39
94.34
Yaogan 5, a Chinese civil radar imaging satellite, was launched on a Long March 4B rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in China’s Shanxi Province at 0322 UT on 15 December 2008. The three-stage rocket boosted the Earth observation satellite into a Sun-synchronous low-Earth orbit.
2008-065A Hot Bird 9
20 December [>1 M yr]
Guiana SC (GF)
Ariane 5 ECA
35787
35786
0.06
1436.09
Hot Bird 9 is a European geostationary communications satellite, owned by Eutelsat and built by EADS Astrium using the Eurostar E3000 platform.The craft is equipped with 64 Ku-band transponders for relaying transmissions directly to small dishes at user’s homes. The satellite will be used for digital and high definition television broadcasting throughout Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Hot Bird 9 will allow the Hot Bird 7A spacecraft currently operating at that location to be moved into the 9ºE position for replacement of the 12-year-old Eurobird 9 craft.
2008-065B Eutelsat W2M
20 December [15 900 yr]
Guiana SC (GF)
Ariane 5 ECA)
35838
35739
0.05
1436.22
W2M is a European geostationary communications satellite, owned by Eutelsat and built under a collaborative effort between EADS Astrium and Antrix – the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organization. It has 32 Ku-band transponders for television broadcasting, internet connectivity and business networking. The craft will replace the W2 satellite launched 10 years ago and will cover markets in central and eastern Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East, and islands in the Indian Ocean region.
2008-066A Feng Yun 2E
23 December [> 1Myr]
Xichang (CN)
CZ-3A
35801
35767
2.63
1435.97
Fengyun 2E, sometimes listed as Fengyun 2-06, was launched aboard a Long March 3A rocket 23 December 2008 at 0054 UT from the Xichang launch centre in China's Sichuan province. The 1390 kg satellite will supply data for weather forecasting for China and neighbouring countries and serve in disaster reduction; it will replace Fengyun 2C (2004042A).
2008-067A Cosmos 2447
25 December [>1 M yr]
Baikonur (KZ)
Proton-M/DM-2
19141
19112
64.83
675.62
Three Glonass-M spacecraft, Cosmos 2447 (Glonass 727), Cosmos 2448 (Glonass 728), Cosmos 2449 (Glonass 729) were added to the Russian global navigation satellite system. The spacecraft are designed to last at least seven years. The Glonass system currently consists of 20 satellites, of which 16 are operational, the three newest are in their commissioning and test phase, and one is due to be withdrawn. The system requires 18 satellites for continuous navigation services covering the entire territory of the Russian Federation, and 24 satellites to provide services worldwide.
2008-067B Cosmos 2449
25 December [> 1Myr)
Baikonur (KZ)
Proton-M/DM-2
19140
19115
64.81
675.65
25 December [>1 M yr]
Baikonur (KZ)
Proton-M/DM-2
19136
18778
64.81
668.88
See 2008-067A.
2008-067C Cosmos 2448 See 2008-067A.
43
2008-001A USA 202 (NROL-26
2009 18 January [N/K]
Kennedy SC (US)
Delta IV
0
0
0
0
USA 202, also known as NROL 26, is an American military (NRO) satellite. It was launched by a Delta IV Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral at 0247 UT on 18 January 2009.
2009-002A Ibuki
2 December [51 yr]
Tanegashima SC (JP)
H-IIA 202
671
668
98.03
98.15
GOSat (Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite), also known as Ibuki, was launched by an H-IIA rocket Launch Vehicle No. 15 (H-IIA F15) from Japan's Tanegashima Space Center at 0354 UT on 23 January 2009. Ibuki (‘breath’ in Japanese) is designed to observe the concentration and distribution of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, etc.) across most of the Earth’s surface. The spacecraft has a mass of approximately 1750 kg, with solar arrays providing at least 3.8 kW of power; the spacecraft is designed for a five year life span. It will be placed into a 666 km Sun-synchronous orbit of inclination of ca. 98º. In this orbit, Ibuki will be able to re-image the same location after three days. The observational instrument onboard the satellite is called the Thermal And Near-infrared Sensor for carbon Observation (TANSO). TANSO comprises two sensors: a Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) and a Cloud Aerosol Imager (CAI). JAXA is the agency responsible for development, launch and operations. The National Institute for Environmental Studies and the Ministry of the Environment will carry out advanced processing and utilization of the data.
2009-002B PRISM
23 January [24 yr]
Tanegashima SC (JP)
H-IIA 202)
666
588
98.06
97.25
Seven Japanese amateur science microsatellites were deployed as piggyback payloads on the Ibuki spacecraft. All of these spacecraft will follow a roughly similar 660 km Sunsynchronous orbit. Six of the small satellites were developed by universities and private-sector companies; the seventh is a technology demonstrator for JAXA.
2009-002C SDS-1
23January [68 yr]
Tanegashima SC (JP)
H-IIA 202)
669
663
98.04
98.04
H-IIA 202)
667
653
98.03
97.95
666
661
98.03
98.01
669
668
98.03
98.12
H-IIA 202)
667
646
98.03
97.88
H-IIA 202)
667
650
98.03
97.92
561
539
82.48
95.66
Small Demonstration Satellite for Japanese Space Agency with technological experiments.
2009-002D SOHLAS-1
23January [61 yr]
Tanegashima SC (JP)
Small civil technology satellite with cloud cover imager, from Osaka region business group Space Oriented.
2009-002E SpriteSat (RISING)
23January [62 yr]
Tanegashima SC (JP)
H-IIA 202)
Tohoku University amateur science satellite to study lightning sprites (Higashiosaka Leading Association).
2009-002F Kagayaki
23January [67 yr]
Tanegashima SC (JP)
H-IIA 202)
Sorun Corporation commercial science satellite for education and research: failed to operate after launch.
2009-002G Ku (STARS-1 Kukai)
23January [60 yr]
Tanegashima SC (JP)
Kagawa University Kukai (STARS) amateur technology space tether robotics experiment.
2009-002H KKS-1
23January [65 yr]
Tanegashima SC (JP)
Amateur technology Kouko-Kosen-Satellite-1 from the Tokyo Metropolitan College of Aeronautical Engineering.
2009-003A Koronas-Foton
30 January [9.6 yr]
Plesetsk (RU)
Tsyklon SL-14 (F-2)
Koronas-Foton (aka Coronas-Photon), a Russian satellite for solar physics, solar-terrestrial connection physics and astrophysics, was launched at 1330 UT on 30 January 2009 from Plesetsk. Koronas-Foton has a mass of 1920 kg, an expected lifetime of three years and two solar panels providing approximately 2 kW power. Koronas-Foton is part of the International Living with a Star (ILWS) programme. The primary purpose of the mission is to study solar electromagnetic radiation, especially from solar flares, in the Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) up to high-energy gamma-ray radiation. It will also be capable of making parallel observations of the Earth’s upper atmosphere in EUV and soft X-rays as well as monitoring other astrophysical X-ray and gamma-ray sources. A high-energy particle detector on board will be capable of monitoring the near-Earth plasma environment. The satellite will operate from a circular orbit of about 500 km altitude with an inclination of 82.5º.
2009-004A Omid
2 February [2.1 yr]
Semnan (IR)
Safir
378
245
55.51
90.76
Omid, the first Iranian artificial Earth satellite, is a small communications satellite, that was launched by Iran on a Safir 2 rocket on 0 February 2009 at 1834 UT. The satellite, the name of which means hope in Farsi, consists of an experimental control system, communications equipment, and a small remote sensing payload.
2009-005A NOAA 19
6 February [253 yr]
Vandenberg AFB (US)
Delta II 7320
865
846
98.73
102.06
NOAA 19 (or NOAA-N Prime ), was launched on 6 February 2009 at 1022 UT aboard a Delta 2 rocket from Vandenberg AFB. The 1440 kg satellite was built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems. The NOAA polar operational environmental satellites collect global data on cloud cover; surface conditions such as ice, snow and vegetation cover, atmospheric temperatures, as well as moisture, aerosol and ozone distributions. They also collect and relay information from fixed and moving data platforms.
44
2009-006A Progress M-66
10 February [1.8 yr]
Baikonur (KZ)
Soyuz SL-4 (A-2)
282
243
51.63
89.77
A Progress-M 66 spacecraft was launched 10 February 2009 at 0549 UT from Baikonur on a Soyuz-U rocket, bound for the International Space Station with which it docked on 13 February 2009 at 0718 UT at the Pirs docking module. The resupply vehicle carried 1300 kg of equipment, food, clothing, life support system gear and a new Orlan spacesuit, 50 kg of oxygen and air for the station’'s atmosphere and 870 kg of propellant for the Russian manoeuvering thrusters.
2009-007A Ekspress AM-44
11 February [>1 Myr]
Baikonur (KZ)
Proton-Briz
37530
35668
0,22
1477.82
The Express AM-44 satellite, built by Reshetnev, will be stationed at 11º W in geosynchronous orbit from which it will serve Russia as well as other countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. The satellite carries 16 Ku-band, 10 C-band and one L-band transponder. The 2532 kg satellite will provide digital television and radio broadcasting, data networking, videoconferencing and internet services for at least 12 years. Express AM44 was launched 11 February 2009 at 0003 UT from Baikonur on a Proton M rocket with a Breeze M upper stage.
2009-007B Ekspress MD-1
11 February [>1 Myr]
Baikonir (KZ)
Proton-Briz
35771
35304
0.23
1423.41
Express MD1, a geosynchronous communications satellite, was launched 11 February 2009 at 0003 UT from Baikonur on a Proton M rocket with a Breeze M upper stage. The 1140 kg satellite, built by Khrunichev for the Russian Satellite Communications Company, will be stationed at 80ºE and will provide communications, digital broadcasting and internet access with eight C-band and one L-band transponder.
2009-008A NSS 9
12 February [>1 Myr]
Guiana SC (GF)
Ariane 5 ECA
35779
35703
0.05
1433.81
NSS 9, built by Orbital Sciences Corporation for SES New Skies, carries 64 C-band transponders and will serve customers on the Pacific rim from 177 ºW in geosynchronous orbit. The satellite was launched 11 February 2009 at 2209 UT on an Ariane 5 ECA rocket from Kourou.
2009-008B Atlantic Bird 4A
12 February [>1 Myr]
Guiana SC (GF)
Ariane 5 ECA
35812
35540
0.07
1430.48
Hot Bird 10 is a geosynchronous communications satellite to be initially placed at 7º W and eventually at 13 ºE. Hot Bird 10 was built by EADS Astrium for Eutelsat and is equipped with 64 Ku-band transponders to deliver direct-to-home television. The 4892 kg satellite is designed for a service life of 15 years and was launched 11 February 2009 at 2209 UT from Kourou. Hot Bird 10 is also known as Atlantic Bird 4A.
2009-008C Spirale A
12 February [5300 yr]
Guiana SC (Gf)
Ariane 5 ECA
35688
636
2.07
637.63
The Spirale A and Spirale B microsatellites were built by Thales Alenia Space for the French military and are designed to monitor ballistic missile launches using infrared imagery. These cube-shaped satellites were launched 11 February 2009 at 2209 UT.
2009-008D Spirale B
12 February [5380 yr]
Guiana SC (Gf)
Ariane 5 ECA
35678
646
2.04
637.63
26 February [> 1 Myr]
Baikonur (KZ)
Zenit-3 (J-1e)
35816
35733
0.06
1435.49
See 2009-008C.
2009-009A Telstar 11N
Telstar 11N is a US communications satellite intended for an orbital slot of 37.5 º W in geosynchronous orbit. The satellite was launched from Baikonur on 26 February 2009 at 1830 UT using a Zenit-3SLB rocket with a Block DM-SLB upper stage. Telstar 11N was built by Space Systems/Loral for Telesat. The satellite will provide video and data applications for North America, Western Europe, and Africa as well as provide mobile broadband services to ships and airplanes on Atlantic transoceanic routes. The 4010 kg satellite has 39 Ku-band transponders and is designed for a service life of 15 years.
2009-010A Raduga-1
28 February [>1 Myr]
Baikonur (KZ)
Proton SL-12 (D-1-e)
35908
35628
1.49
1435.15
Raduga 1, a Russian military communications satellite, was launched from Baikonur on a Proton K rocket with a Block DM-2 upper stage on 28 February 2009 at 0410 UT. The satellite will operate in a geosynchronous orbit.
2009-011A Kepler
7 March [>1 Myr]
Kennedy SC (US)
Delta II 7925
0
0
0
0
Kepler is an American (NASA) astronomy probe launched by a Delta 2 rocket from Cape Canaveral at 0350 UT on 7 March 2009. Kepler's mission is to search for Earth-sized planets around other stars by looking for brightness variations in over 100 000 stars in the Cygnus-Lyra region. The photometer on Kepler will continuously monitor the same starfield in a 12º field of view over the nominal 3.5 year lifetime of the space probe, allowing multiple observations of transits of exoplanets in orbits up to one year. To help fulfill the science objectives, the 1052 kg spacecraft was placed into a solar orbit of period 372.5 days. This orbit helps maintain a stable pointing attitude.
2009-012A Discovery
15 March (28 March)
Kennedy SC (US)
OV-103 (STS-119)
261
231
51.64
89.44
STS 119 is an American (NASA) shuttle craft. It carried seven astronauts (six American and one Japanese) to the International Space Station (ISS) with which it docked at 2120 UT on 17 March 2009. The crew transfer brought aboard the ISS the first Japanese long-duration astronaut. The primary goal of the mission was to bring the final set of solar arrays, also known as the starboard 6 or S6 truss segment, to the ISS and install them. The crew performed three spacewalks to install the truss segment and carry out other activities. The crew also delivered a new urine processor distillation assembly as part of the crew life support system. The shuttle undocked from the ISS at 1953 UT on 25 March and landed back at
45
Cape Canaveral at 1914 UT on 28 March. The shuttle returned with samples of water cleaned by the recycling system and also frozen biological samples collected over several months as part of a medical experiment on the human response to microgravity.
2009-013A GOCE
17 March [1.7 yr]
Plesetsk (RU)
Rokot SL-19
290
272
96.71
90.14
GOCE, the Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer, is an ESA Earth science satellite designed to measure the Earth’s gravitational field to create very highresolution maps of the geoid. These maps will provide the baseline for the measurements of ocean circulation and sea-level change. The 1100 kg spacecraft is 5 metres long by 1 metre wide and its fixed solar arrays will produce 1.3 kW of power. The satellite carries six high-sensitivity accelerometers arranged along the three axes of the spacecraft. To enable the satellite to acquire high-resolution measurements, the satellite must travel at a low orbital altitude (260 km) at which atmospheric drag effects are still significant. To compensate for these effects, the satellite has a sleek arrow-shaped design to reduce drag and small winglets and a tail fin to stabilize it. GOCE’s orbital altitude will also be maintained with the assistance of an onboard ion engine.
2009-014A GPS IIR-20(M)
24 March [>1 Myr]
Kennedy SC (US)
Delta II 7925
20089
20024
55.03
712.90
Navstar 63, also known as USA 203 and as GPS 2R-20(M), is an American (DOD) navigational craft in the GPS fleet. It will replace the GPS 2A-27 satellite launched in 1996.
2009-015A Soyuz TMA-14
26 March (7 April)
Baikonur (KZ)
Soyuz SL-4 (A-2)
271
226
51.64
89.49
Soyuz-TMA 14 is a Russian (RKA) passenger -carrying spacecraft. It carried a Russian cosmonaut, an American astronaut and a space tourist to the International Space Station. It docked with the Zvezda module of the ISS at 1305 UT on 28 March 2009. The last 150 metres during the approach to docking were performed manually after a computer glitch occurred. The two astronauts will form part of the ISS Expedition 19 crew while the tourist was to have returned on 7 April 2009 aboard Soyuz TM 13 with two members of the current ISS crew. ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
46
Advances in Space Research The Official Journal of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), a Scientific Committee of the International Council for Science (ICSU) The COSPAR publication Advances in Space Research (ASR) is an open journal covering all areas of space research including: space studies of the Earth's surface, meteorology, climate, the Earth-Moon system, planets and small bodies of the solar system, upper atmospheres, ionospheres and magnetospheres of the Earth and planets including reference atmospheres, space plasmas in the solar system, astrophysics from space, materials sciences in space, life sciences as related to space, fundamental physics in space, space debris, space weather, earth observations of space phenomena, etc. All submissions are reviewed by two scientists in the field. COSPAR is an interdisciplinary scientific organization concerned with the progress of space research on an international scale. Operating under the rules of ICSU, COSPAR ignores political considerations and considers all questions solely from the scientific viewpoint. Advances in Space Research welcomes high quality submissions at any time, independent of any COSPAR assembly or other activity. The number of thematic issues has been reduced, which will have a positive influence on publication times.
Editor-in-Chief: M.A. Shea Mailing Address: 100 Tennyson Avenue, Nashua, NH 03062, USA Email: [email protected]
Air Force Research Laboratory (VSBX) Emeritus 29 Randolph Road, Hanscom AFB, Bedford, MA 01731-3010,USA,
Co-editors B. Paul
J. Laštovička
Raman Research Institute, Sadashivnagar, C.V. Raman Avenue, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560080 India Email: [email protected]
Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Academy of Sciences Bocni II, 141 31 Prague 4, Czech Republic Email: [email protected]
47
Nine sections In order to create a clearer and easier structure Advances in Space Research has introduced nine sections, each with dedicated Editors: Astrophysics (AP) – B. Paul J. Büchner B. Nath B. Paul P.R. Wesselius
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Stellar, galactic and extragalactic astrophysics, extra-solar planetary systems, cosmology, particle astrophysics, astrophysical phenomena, neutrino astrophysics, astronomical space missions and instrumentation. The Sun as a star is included in this category. Solar System Bodies (SB) – B. Paul P. Ehrenfreund R. Grard
[email protected] [email protected]
Planetary bodies (i.e. telluric planets, giant planets and dwarf planets); moons (i.e. natural satellites); planetary atmospheres, magnetospheres and ionospheres; trans-neptunian objects; small bodies (i.e. comets, asteroids, interplanetary dust and meteoroids). Earth Sciences (ES) - J. Laštovička J. Benveniste J.P. Burrows N. Gobron
[email protected] [email protected]
[email protected]
Remote sensing of Earth atmosphere, ocean and land (including Earth observation missions and instrumentation), scientific applications to Earth studies, including meteorology, climate, solid Earth science, geophysical hazards, etc., as well as physical, chemical and biological interactions within the global Earth system. Earth Magnetosphere (EM) – J. Laštovička B.R. Clemesha G.S. Lakhina J. Laštovička
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Upper atmosphere, ionosphere, magnetosphere, radiation belts, geomagnetic phenomena, Earth’s magnetic field. Solar and Heliospheric Physics (SH) – M.A. Shea J. Büchner M.A. Shea D.G. Sibeck M. Zhang
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Solar activity, solar emissions (photons, particles and plasma), solar cycle, cosmic ray modulation, and processes in the interplanetary medium.
48
Life Sciences in Space (LS) - M.A Shea K.H. Hasenstein M. Nelson F. Raulin M.A. Shea
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Astrobiology – space prebiotic chemistry, life detection, habitability; biological effects of microgravity; space radiations – effects on biological systems, protection and measurements; life support systems and space flight environments; psychological and other human issues related to manned space missions; planetary protection. Astrodynamics and Space Debris (AD) – J. Laštovička L. Anselmo P.R. Willis
[email protected] [email protected]
Satellite dynamics, space dynamics, space debris Fundamental Physics in Space and Microgravity Sciences (FM) – B. Paul C. Laemmerzahl R. Narayanan
[email protected] [email protected]
Gravitational physics, microgravity fluids, material and combustion sciences. Space Technology, Policy and Education (ST) – M.A. Shea A. Cadiou P. Martinez M.A. Shea
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Space technology and engineering, space policy, space education and capacity building
Journal homepage For more information on the journal and submission information please go to: www.elsevier.com/locate/asr
49
2 December [15 900 yr]
Plesetsk (RU)
Molinya SL-6 (A-2-e)
39189
523
62.86
704.82
0.05
1436.07
Russian military satellite, believed to be an Oko-KS early warning satellite launched by the Russian Defence Ministry satellite into an highly elliptical orbit.
2008-063A Ciel-2
10 December [>1 M yr]
Baikonur (KZ)
Proton-Briz
35786
35785
Ciel 2 is a Canadian geosynchronous communications satellite (owned by the Ciel Satellite Group) that will be used for digital TV services. Ciel 2 has 32 Ku-band transponders and is based on a Spacebus 4000 C4 model built by Thales Alenia Space. From its orbital position at 129ºW, the spacecraft will serve the Canadian and the larger North American market.
2008-064A Yaogan Weixing 5
15 December [7.1 yr]
Taiyuan (CN)
CZ-4B
492
480
97.39
94.34
Yaogan 5, a Chinese civil radar imaging satellite, was launched on a Long March 4B rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in China’s Shanxi Province at 0322 UT on 15 December 2008. The three-stage rocket boosted the Earth observation satellite into a Sun-synchronous low-Earth orbit.
2008-065A Hot Bird 9
20 December [>1 M yr]
Guiana SC (GF)
Ariane 5 ECA
35787
35786
0.06
1436.09
Hot Bird 9 is a European geostationary communications satellite, owned by Eutelsat and built by EADS Astrium using the Eurostar E3000 platform.The craft is equipped with 64 Ku-band transponders for relaying transmissions directly to small dishes at user’s homes. The satellite will be used for digital and high definition television broadcasting throughout Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Hot Bird 9 will allow the Hot Bird 7A spacecraft currently operating at that location to be moved into the 9ºE position for replacement of the 12-year-old Eurobird 9 craft.
2008-065B Eutelsat W2M
20 December [15 900 yr]
Guiana SC (GF)
Ariane 5 ECA)
35838
35739
0.05
1436.22
W2M is a European geostationary communications satellite, owned by Eutelsat and built under a collaborative effort between EADS Astrium and Antrix – the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organization. It has 32 Ku-band transponders for television broadcasting, internet connectivity and business networking. The craft will replace the W2 satellite launched 10 years ago and will cover markets in central and eastern Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East, and islands in the Indian Ocean region.
2008-066A Feng Yun 2E
23 December [> 1Myr]
Xichang (CN)
CZ-3A
35801
35767
2.63
1435.97
Fengyun 2E, sometimes listed as Fengyun 2-06, was launched aboard a Long March 3A rocket 23 December 2008 at 0054 UT from the Xichang launch centre in China's Sichuan province. The 1390 kg satellite will supply data for weather forecasting for China and neighbouring countries and serve in disaster reduction; it will replace Fengyun 2C (2004042A).
2008-067A Cosmos 2447
25 December [>1 M yr]
Baikonur (KZ)
Proton-M/DM-2
19141
19112
64.83
675.62
Three Glonass-M spacecraft, Cosmos 2447 (Glonass 727), Cosmos 2448 (Glonass 728), Cosmos 2449 (Glonass 729) were added to the Russian global navigation satellite system. The spacecraft are designed to last at least seven years. The Glonass system currently consists of 20 satellites, of which 16 are operational, the three newest are in their commissioning and test phase, and one is due to be withdrawn. The system requires 18 satellites for continuous navigation services covering the entire territory of the Russian Federation, and 24 satellites to provide services worldwide.
2008-067B Cosmos 2449
25 December [> 1Myr)
Baikonur (KZ)
Proton-M/DM-2
19140
19115
64.81
675.65
25 December [>1 M yr]
Baikonur (KZ)
Proton-M/DM-2
19136
18778
64.81
668.88
See 2008-067A.
2008-067C Cosmos 2448 See 2008-067A.
43
2008-001A USA 202 (NROL-26
2009 18 January [N/K]
Kennedy SC (US)
Delta IV
0
0
0
0
USA 202, also known as NROL 26, is an American military (NRO) satellite. It was launched by a Delta IV Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral at 0247 UT on 18 January 2009.
2009-002A Ibuki
2 December [51 yr]
Tanegashima SC (JP)
H-IIA 202
671
668
98.03
98.15
GOSat (Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite), also known as Ibuki, was launched by an H-IIA rocket Launch Vehicle No. 15 (H-IIA F15) from Japan's Tanegashima Space Center at 0354 UT on 23 January 2009. Ibuki (‘breath’ in Japanese) is designed to observe the concentration and distribution of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, etc.) across most of the Earth’s surface. The spacecraft has a mass of approximately 1750 kg, with solar arrays providing at least 3.8 kW of power; the spacecraft is designed for a five year life span. It will be placed into a 666 km Sun-synchronous orbit of inclination of ca. 98º. In this orbit, Ibuki will be able to re-image the same location after three days. The observational instrument onboard the satellite is called the Thermal And Near-infrared Sensor for carbon Observation (TANSO). TANSO comprises two sensors: a Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) and a Cloud Aerosol Imager (CAI). JAXA is the agency responsible for development, launch and operations. The National Institute for Environmental Studies and the Ministry of the Environment will carry out advanced processing and utilization of the data.
2009-002B PRISM
23 January [24 yr]
Tanegashima SC (JP)
H-IIA 202)
666
588
98.06
97.25
Seven Japanese amateur science microsatellites were deployed as piggyback payloads on the Ibuki spacecraft. All of these spacecraft will follow a roughly similar 660 km Sunsynchronous orbit. Six of the small satellites were developed by universities and private-sector companies; the seventh is a technology demonstrator for JAXA.
2009-002C SDS-1
23January [68 yr]
Tanegashima SC (JP)
H-IIA 202)
669
663
98.04
98.04
H-IIA 202)
667
653
98.03
97.95
666
661
98.03
98.01
669
668
98.03
98.12
H-IIA 202)
667
646
98.03
97.88
H-IIA 202)
667
650
98.03
97.92
561
539
82.48
95.66
Small Demonstration Satellite for Japanese Space Agency with technological experiments.
2009-002D SOHLAS-1
23January [61 yr]
Tanegashima SC (JP)
Small civil technology satellite with cloud cover imager, from Osaka region business group Space Oriented.
2009-002E SpriteSat (RISING)
23January [62 yr]
Tanegashima SC (JP)
H-IIA 202)
Tohoku University amateur science satellite to study lightning sprites (Higashiosaka Leading Association).
2009-002F Kagayaki
23January [67 yr]
Tanegashima SC (JP)
H-IIA 202)
Sorun Corporation commercial science satellite for education and research: failed to operate after launch.
2009-002G Ku (STARS-1 Kukai)
23January [60 yr]
Tanegashima SC (JP)
Kagawa University Kukai (STARS) amateur technology space tether robotics experiment.
2009-002H KKS-1
23January [65 yr]
Tanegashima SC (JP)
Amateur technology Kouko-Kosen-Satellite-1 from the Tokyo Metropolitan College of Aeronautical Engineering.
2009-003A Koronas-Foton
30 January [9.6 yr]
Plesetsk (RU)
Tsyklon SL-14 (F-2)
Koronas-Foton (aka Coronas-Photon), a Russian satellite for solar physics, solar-terrestrial connection physics and astrophysics, was launched at 1330 UT on 30 January 2009 from Plesetsk. Koronas-Foton has a mass of 1920 kg, an expected lifetime of three years and two solar panels providing approximately 2 kW power. Koronas-Foton is part of the International Living with a Star (ILWS) programme. The primary purpose of the mission is to study solar electromagnetic radiation, especially from solar flares, in the Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) up to high-energy gamma-ray radiation. It will also be capable of making parallel observations of the Earth’s upper atmosphere in EUV and soft X-rays as well as monitoring other astrophysical X-ray and gamma-ray sources. A high-energy particle detector on board will be capable of monitoring the near-Earth plasma environment. The satellite will operate from a circular orbit of about 500 km altitude with an inclination of 82.5º.
2009-004A Omid
2 February [2.1 yr]
Semnan (IR)
Safir
378
245
55.51
90.76
Omid, the first Iranian artificial Earth satellite, is a small communications satellite, that was launched by Iran on a Safir 2 rocket on 0 February 2009 at 1834 UT. The satellite, the name of which means hope in Farsi, consists of an experimental control system, communications equipment, and a small remote sensing payload.
2009-005A NOAA 19
6 February [253 yr]
Vandenberg AFB (US)
Delta II 7320
865
846
98.73
102.06
NOAA 19 (or NOAA-N Prime ), was launched on 6 February 2009 at 1022 UT aboard a Delta 2 rocket from Vandenberg AFB. The 1440 kg satellite was built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems. The NOAA polar operational environmental satellites collect global data on cloud cover; surface conditions such as ice, snow and vegetation cover, atmospheric temperatures, as well as moisture, aerosol and ozone distributions. They also collect and relay information from fixed and moving data platforms.
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2009-006A Progress M-66
10 February [1.8 yr]
Baikonur (KZ)
Soyuz SL-4 (A-2)
282
243
51.63
89.77
A Progress-M 66 spacecraft was launched 10 February 2009 at 0549 UT from Baikonur on a Soyuz-U rocket, bound for the International Space Station with which it docked on 13 February 2009 at 0718 UT at the Pirs docking module. The resupply vehicle carried 1300 kg of equipment, food, clothing, life support system gear and a new Orlan spacesuit, 50 kg of oxygen and air for the station’'s atmosphere and 870 kg of propellant for the Russian manoeuvering thrusters.
2009-007A Ekspress AM-44
11 February [>1 Myr]
Baikonur (KZ)
Proton-Briz
37530
35668
0,22
1477.82
The Express AM-44 satellite, built by Reshetnev, will be stationed at 11º W in geosynchronous orbit from which it will serve Russia as well as other countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. The satellite carries 16 Ku-band, 10 C-band and one L-band transponder. The 2532 kg satellite will provide digital television and radio broadcasting, data networking, videoconferencing and internet services for at least 12 years. Express AM44 was launched 11 February 2009 at 0003 UT from Baikonur on a Proton M rocket with a Breeze M upper stage.
2009-007B Ekspress MD-1
11 February [>1 Myr]
Baikonir (KZ)
Proton-Briz
35771
35304
0.23
1423.41
Express MD1, a geosynchronous communications satellite, was launched 11 February 2009 at 0003 UT from Baikonur on a Proton M rocket with a Breeze M upper stage. The 1140 kg satellite, built by Khrunichev for the Russian Satellite Communications Company, will be stationed at 80ºE and will provide communications, digital broadcasting and internet access with eight C-band and one L-band transponder.
2009-008A NSS 9
12 February [>1 Myr]
Guiana SC (GF)
Ariane 5 ECA
35779
35703
0.05
1433.81
NSS 9, built by Orbital Sciences Corporation for SES New Skies, carries 64 C-band transponders and will serve customers on the Pacific rim from 177 ºW in geosynchronous orbit. The satellite was launched 11 February 2009 at 2209 UT on an Ariane 5 ECA rocket from Kourou.
2009-008B Atlantic Bird 4A
12 February [>1 Myr]
Guiana SC (GF)
Ariane 5 ECA
35812
35540
0.07
1430.48
Hot Bird 10 is a geosynchronous communications satellite to be initially placed at 7º W and eventually at 13 ºE. Hot Bird 10 was built by EADS Astrium for Eutelsat and is equipped with 64 Ku-band transponders to deliver direct-to-home television. The 4892 kg satellite is designed for a service life of 15 years and was launched 11 February 2009 at 2209 UT from Kourou. Hot Bird 10 is also known as Atlantic Bird 4A.
2009-008C Spirale A
12 February [5300 yr]
Guiana SC (Gf)
Ariane 5 ECA
35688
636
2.07
637.63
The Spirale A and Spirale B microsatellites were built by Thales Alenia Space for the French military and are designed to monitor ballistic missile launches using infrared imagery. These cube-shaped satellites were launched 11 February 2009 at 2209 UT.
2009-008D Spirale B
12 February [5380 yr]
Guiana SC (Gf)
Ariane 5 ECA
35678
646
2.04
637.63
26 February [> 1 Myr]
Baikonur (KZ)
Zenit-3 (J-1e)
35816
35733
0.06
1435.49
See 2009-008C.
2009-009A Telstar 11N
Telstar 11N is a US communications satellite intended for an orbital slot of 37.5 º W in geosynchronous orbit. The satellite was launched from Baikonur on 26 February 2009 at 1830 UT using a Zenit-3SLB rocket with a Block DM-SLB upper stage. Telstar 11N was built by Space Systems/Loral for Telesat. The satellite will provide video and data applications for North America, Western Europe, and Africa as well as provide mobile broadband services to ships and airplanes on Atlantic transoceanic routes. The 4010 kg satellite has 39 Ku-band transponders and is designed for a service life of 15 years.
2009-010A Raduga-1
28 February [>1 Myr]
Baikonur (KZ)
Proton SL-12 (D-1-e)
35908
35628
1.49
1435.15
Raduga 1, a Russian military communications satellite, was launched from Baikonur on a Proton K rocket with a Block DM-2 upper stage on 28 February 2009 at 0410 UT. The satellite will operate in a geosynchronous orbit.
2009-011A Kepler
7 March [>1 Myr]
Kennedy SC (US)
Delta II 7925
0
0
0
0
Kepler is an American (NASA) astronomy probe launched by a Delta 2 rocket from Cape Canaveral at 0350 UT on 7 March 2009. Kepler's mission is to search for Earth-sized planets around other stars by looking for brightness variations in over 100 000 stars in the Cygnus-Lyra region. The photometer on Kepler will continuously monitor the same starfield in a 12º field of view over the nominal 3.5 year lifetime of the space probe, allowing multiple observations of transits of exoplanets in orbits up to one year. To help fulfill the science objectives, the 1052 kg spacecraft was placed into a solar orbit of period 372.5 days. This orbit helps maintain a stable pointing attitude.
2009-012A Discovery
15 March (28 March)
Kennedy SC (US)
OV-103 (STS-119)
261
231
51.64
89.44
STS 119 is an American (NASA) shuttle craft. It carried seven astronauts (six American and one Japanese) to the International Space Station (ISS) with which it docked at 2120 UT on 17 March 2009. The crew transfer brought aboard the ISS the first Japanese long-duration astronaut. The primary goal of the mission was to bring the final set of solar arrays, also known as the starboard 6 or S6 truss segment, to the ISS and install them. The crew performed three spacewalks to install the truss segment and carry out other activities. The crew also delivered a new urine processor distillation assembly as part of the crew life support system. The shuttle undocked from the ISS at 1953 UT on 25 March and landed back at
45
Cape Canaveral at 1914 UT on 28 March. The shuttle returned with samples of water cleaned by the recycling system and also frozen biological samples collected over several months as part of a medical experiment on the human response to microgravity.
2009-013A GOCE
17 March [1.7 yr]
Plesetsk (RU)
Rokot SL-19
290
272
96.71
90.14
GOCE, the Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer, is an ESA Earth science satellite designed to measure the Earth’s gravitational field to create very highresolution maps of the geoid. These maps will provide the baseline for the measurements of ocean circulation and sea-level change. The 1100 kg spacecraft is 5 metres long by 1 metre wide and its fixed solar arrays will produce 1.3 kW of power. The satellite carries six high-sensitivity accelerometers arranged along the three axes of the spacecraft. To enable the satellite to acquire high-resolution measurements, the satellite must travel at a low orbital altitude (260 km) at which atmospheric drag effects are still significant. To compensate for these effects, the satellite has a sleek arrow-shaped design to reduce drag and small winglets and a tail fin to stabilize it. GOCE’s orbital altitude will also be maintained with the assistance of an onboard ion engine.
2009-014A GPS IIR-20(M)
24 March [>1 Myr]
Kennedy SC (US)
Delta II 7925
20089
20024
55.03
712.90
Navstar 63, also known as USA 203 and as GPS 2R-20(M), is an American (DOD) navigational craft in the GPS fleet. It will replace the GPS 2A-27 satellite launched in 1996.
2009-015A Soyuz TMA-14
26 March (7 April)
Baikonur (KZ)
Soyuz SL-4 (A-2)
271
226
51.64
89.49
Soyuz-TMA 14 is a Russian (RKA) passenger -carrying spacecraft. It carried a Russian cosmonaut, an American astronaut and a space tourist to the International Space Station. It docked with the Zvezda module of the ISS at 1305 UT on 28 March 2009. The last 150 metres during the approach to docking were performed manually after a computer glitch occurred. The two astronauts will form part of the ISS Expedition 19 crew while the tourist was to have returned on 7 April 2009 aboard Soyuz TM 13 with two members of the current ISS crew. ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
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Advances in Space Research The Official Journal of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), a Scientific Committee of the International Council for Science (ICSU) The COSPAR publication Advances in Space Research (ASR) is an open journal covering all areas of space research including: space studies of the Earth's surface, meteorology, climate, the Earth-Moon system, planets and small bodies of the solar system, upper atmospheres, ionospheres and magnetospheres of the Earth and planets including reference atmospheres, space plasmas in the solar system, astrophysics from space, materials sciences in space, life sciences as related to space, fundamental physics in space, space debris, space weather, earth observations of space phenomena, etc. All submissions are reviewed by two scientists in the field. COSPAR is an interdisciplinary scientific organization concerned with the progress of space research on an international scale. Operating under the rules of ICSU, COSPAR ignores political considerations and considers all questions solely from the scientific viewpoint. Advances in Space Research welcomes high quality submissions at any time, independent of any COSPAR assembly or other activity. The number of thematic issues has been reduced, which will have a positive influence on publication times.
Editor-in-Chief: M.A. Shea Mailing Address: 100 Tennyson Avenue, Nashua, NH 03062, USA Email: [email protected]
Air Force Research Laboratory (VSBX) Emeritus 29 Randolph Road, Hanscom AFB, Bedford, MA 01731-3010,USA,
Co-editors B. Paul
J. Laštovička
Raman Research Institute, Sadashivnagar, C.V. Raman Avenue, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560080 India Email: [email protected]
Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Academy of Sciences Bocni II, 141 31 Prague 4, Czech Republic Email: [email protected]
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Nine sections In order to create a clearer and easier structure Advances in Space Research has introduced nine sections, each with dedicated Editors: Astrophysics (AP) – B. Paul J. Büchner B. Nath B. Paul P.R. Wesselius
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Stellar, galactic and extragalactic astrophysics, extra-solar planetary systems, cosmology, particle astrophysics, astrophysical phenomena, neutrino astrophysics, astronomical space missions and instrumentation. The Sun as a star is included in this category. Solar System Bodies (SB) – B. Paul P. Ehrenfreund R. Grard
[email protected] [email protected]
Planetary bodies (i.e. telluric planets, giant planets and dwarf planets); moons (i.e. natural satellites); planetary atmospheres, magnetospheres and ionospheres; trans-neptunian objects; small bodies (i.e. comets, asteroids, interplanetary dust and meteoroids). Earth Sciences (ES) - J. Laštovička J. Benveniste J.P. Burrows N. Gobron
[email protected] [email protected]
[email protected]
Remote sensing of Earth atmosphere, ocean and land (including Earth observation missions and instrumentation), scientific applications to Earth studies, including meteorology, climate, solid Earth science, geophysical hazards, etc., as well as physical, chemical and biological interactions within the global Earth system. Earth Magnetosphere (EM) – J. Laštovička B.R. Clemesha G.S. Lakhina J. Laštovička
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Upper atmosphere, ionosphere, magnetosphere, radiation belts, geomagnetic phenomena, Earth’s magnetic field. Solar and Heliospheric Physics (SH) – M.A. Shea J. Büchner M.A. Shea D.G. Sibeck M. Zhang
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Solar activity, solar emissions (photons, particles and plasma), solar cycle, cosmic ray modulation, and processes in the interplanetary medium.
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Life Sciences in Space (LS) - M.A Shea K.H. Hasenstein M. Nelson F. Raulin M.A. Shea
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Astrobiology – space prebiotic chemistry, life detection, habitability; biological effects of microgravity; space radiations – effects on biological systems, protection and measurements; life support systems and space flight environments; psychological and other human issues related to manned space missions; planetary protection. Astrodynamics and Space Debris (AD) – J. Laštovička L. Anselmo P.R. Willis
[email protected] [email protected]
Satellite dynamics, space dynamics, space debris Fundamental Physics in Space and Microgravity Sciences (FM) – B. Paul C. Laemmerzahl R. Narayanan
[email protected] [email protected]
Gravitational physics, microgravity fluids, material and combustion sciences. Space Technology, Policy and Education (ST) – M.A. Shea A. Cadiou P. Martinez M.A. Shea
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Space technology and engineering, space policy, space education and capacity building
Journal homepage For more information on the journal and submission information please go to: www.elsevier.com/locate/asr
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