SPIRALE B

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SPIRALE B is classified as:

Military

NORAD ID: 33752

Int'l Code: 2009-008D

Perigee: 261.4 km

Apogee: 30,908.8 km

Inclination: 1.7 °

Period: 539.6 minutes

Semi major axis: 21956 km

RCS: 0.5012 m² (medium)

Launch date: February 12, 2009
Source: France (FR)
Launch site: FRENCH GUIANA (FRGUI)

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.

1 33752U 09008D   16270.75500987  .00004577  00000-0  10668-2 0  9990
2 33752   1.7432 124.0561 6979246 137.6156 305.3035  2.66851885 67764

Source of the keplerian elements: AFSPC