Military
NORAD ID: 38012
Int'l Code: 2011-076F
Perigee: 696.9 km
Apogee: 698.9 km
Inclination: 98.2 °
Period: 98.7 minutes
Semi major axis: 7076 km
Launch date: December 17, 2011
Source: France (FR)
Comments: Led by CNES, the French space agency, Pleiades 1 will collect high-resolution optical imagery for military and civilian users. The Pleiades system is also partially funded by Belgium, Sweden, Spain and Austria. It will complement France's Helios government spy satellites and the Spot series of commercial imaging craft. Designed for a five-year mission, the agile Pleiades satellites each carry a Korsch telescope built by Thales Alenia Space with a primary mirror 2.1 feet (0.6 m) in diameter. Its CCD detectors are 40 times more sensitive to light than those in standard consumer digital cameras, according to CNES.
Two Line Element Set (TLE):
1 38012U 11076F 15063.84443165 .00000396 00000-0 95043-4 0 9992
2 38012 098.2028 139.9631 0001462 083.6391 276.4970 14.58536660171097
Source: AFSPC
NASA's NSSDC Master Catalog entry for PLEIADES 1
