Military
NORAD ID: 33752
Int'l Code: 2009-008D
Perigee: 264.5 km
Apogee: 32,451.5 km
Inclination: 1.6 °
Period: 568.4 minutes
Semi major axis: 22728 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 14206.48100506 .00002690 00000-0 71999-3 0 3465
2 33752 001.6352 163.0501 7080606 069.6789 013.8465 02.53356644 46990
Source: AFSPC
NASA's NSSDC Master Catalog entry for SPIRALE B
