SPIRALE A

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10-day predictions
SPIRALE A is classified as:

Military

NORAD ID: 33751

Int'l Code: 2009-008C

Perigee: 668.5 km

Apogee: 17,186.6 km

Inclination: 2.0 °

Period: 313.9 minutes

Semi major axis: 15298 km

RCS: 0.631 m² (medium)

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

SPIRALE A 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 33751U 09008C   21289.00657207  .00000123  00000-0  68516-3 0  9990
2 33751   2.0159 121.6768 5398598 151.4918 253.8404  4.58805569183586

Source of the keplerian elements: AFSPC