Military
NORAD ID: 33752
Int'l Code: 2009-008D
Perigee: 263.8 km
Apogee: 32,455.7 km
Inclination: 1.6 °
Period: 568.4 minutes
Semi major axis: 22730 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 14199.77977443 .00002079 00000-0 62545-3 0 3446
2 33752 001.6457 166.8791 7081146 062.7136 022.1255 02.53328003 46828
Source: AFSPC
NASA's NSSDC Master Catalog entry for SPIRALE B
