COMETS

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COMETS is classified as:

Engineering

NORAD ID: 25175

Int'l Code: 1998-011A

Perigee: 1,052.1 km

Apogee: 17,720.7 km

Inclination: 30.2 °

Period: 328.1 minutes

Semi major axis: 15757 km

RCS: 29.8939 m² (large)

Launch date: February 21, 1998
Source: Japan (JPN)
Launch site: TANEGASHIMA SPACE CENTER (TNSTA)

COMETS (The Communications and Broadcasting Engineering Test Satellite) was a research and development satellite aimed at developing new technology in communications and broadcasting fields such as inter-orbit communications, advanced satellite broadcasting, advanced mobile satellite communications, and upgrading large geostationary satellites. It was to be used for conducting experiments and verifying the above subjects. The planned lifetime of the mission was to be three years, but a failure in the second stage of the H-II launch vehicle resulted in a highly eccentric orbit and prevented the spacecraft from attaining its planned geostationary orbit.

1 25175U 98011A   20018.19509599 -.00000017 +00000-0 +00000-0 0  9996
2 25175 030.1816 047.2600 5289139 329.7099 008.1863 04.38910385359998

Source of the keplerian elements: AFSPC