Military
NORAD ID: 33752
Int'l Code: 2009-008D
Perigee: 226.7 km
Apogee: 31,822.6 km
Inclination: 2.1 °
Period: 556.2 minutes
Semi major axis: 22402 km
Launch date: February 12, 2009
Source: France (FR)
Comments: SPIRALE B is a missile-warning micro-satellite for the French military. The satellite will test a space-based optical early warning system to detect enemy missile launches. The name comes from the French acronym for "Preparatory System for IR Early Warning". Flying in a highly elliptical orbit of 22,300 by 375 miles [35,900 by 600 km], the cube-shaped micro-satellite will take infrared imagery to spot ballistic missiles during their boost phase of flight.
Two Line Element Set (TLE):
1 33752U 09008D 15061.26766568 .00027707 00000-0 39115-2 0 9990
2 33752 002.0788 055.4817 7051797 281.9314 012.9691 02.58911004 52602
Source: AFSPC
NASA's NSSDC Master Catalog entry for SPIRALE B
