SPIRALE A

Track SPIRALE A now!
10-day predictions
SPIRALE A is classified as:

Military

NORAD ID: 33751

Int'l Code: 2009-008C

Perigee: 566.3 km

Apogee: 17,283.9 km

Inclination: 2.1 °

Period: 313.8 minutes

Semi major axis: 15296 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   23028.07929789  .00000332  00000-0  10728-2 0  9990
2 33751   2.1057  42.6086 5464686 310.2297  13.3579  4.58914669205046

Source of the keplerian elements: AFSPC