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| Spacecraft |
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| CORONAS-F CORONAS-F (also known as KORONAS-F, and AUS-SM-KF) is a Russian solar observatory that was launched by a Tsiklon 3 rocket from Plesetsk on July 31, 2001. The 2,260-kg (with fuel) spacecraftwill be pointing toward the Sun within 10 arc-minutes to conduct a variety of observations. It carries X-ray monitors to locate sources within 1 arcsec, radio receivers to measure flux and polarization, and particle counters. The scientific goal of the project is to conduct complex research of the powerful dynamic processes of the solar activity in the broad range of spectrum from radio to gamma rays. Nine countries are taking part in the project, including USA. A similar version of this observatory, CORONAS-I was launched in 1994, but its functionality was crippled by an orientation control failure a few months after launch. Nominal mission duration - more than 1 year (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 01:01:1970 |
| Odin On February 20, 2001 Swedish Odin spacecraft was launched. The 550-pound satellite combines two scientific disciplines on a single spacecraft in studies of star formation/early solar system (astronomy) and of the mechanisms behind the depletion of the ozone layer in the earth atmosphere (aeronomy). The spacecraft was developed by the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) on behalf of the Swedish National Space Board (SNSB) and thespace agencies of Canada (CSA), Finland (TEKES) and France (CNES). The main instrument on Odin is an advanced radiometer, called SMR (Sub Millimetre Reciever), using a 1.1 m telescope, which will be used for both the astronomy and aeronomy missions. For the aeronomy mission the payload is complemented by a spectrograph, named OSIRIS (Optical Spectrograph and InfraRed Imaging System). The satellite is to spend at least two years in orbit (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 27:02:2001 |
| International Space Station In February 2001 in addition to three major modules of the International Space Station, Zarya, Unity and Zvezda, the forth one was delivered - U.S. Destiny Laboratory Module. Now the second permanent crew composed of two Americans and one Russian works at the station since March 9, 2001. When the ISS is completed it will host up to seven astronauts. Check the current orbit of the station and try to find it on the sky (ref.: NORAD data) creation date: 30:01:2001 |
| SAC-C The SAC-C spacecraft, launched on November 21, 2000, is Argentina’s first Earth Observation Satellite and the third in a series of science-oriented space missions within Argentina’s Space Program. The mission is a joint effort between Argentina, the United States, Brazil, Denmark, France and Italy. With its 11 instruments SAC-C will study the influences on Earth from the Sun, as well as our planet's environment and ecology (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 19:12:2000 |
| Earth Observing-1 On November 22nd, 2000 NASA's Earth Observing-1 spacecraft was launched. EO-1 mission is the first of three New Millennium Program Earth-orbiting missions. The EO missions will develop and validate instruments and technologies, that could be employed by the next generation of Landsat-type remote sensing craft. EO-1 will be inserted into an orbit flying in formation with the Landsat 7 satellite taking a series of the same images. Comparison of these "paired scene" images will be one means to evaluate EO-1's land imaging instruments (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 05:12:2000 |
| HETE-2 The HETE-2, launched on October 9, 2000, is a cooperative mission between NASA and a consortium of institutions from USA, France, Italy and Japan. The High Energy Transient Explorer is a small scientific satellite designed to detect and localize gamma-ray bursts. A unique feature of the mission will be its capability to localize bursts with several arcsecond accuracy, in near real-time aboard the spacecraft. These positions will be distributed to interested ground-based observers, enabling sensitive follow-up studies (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 28:11:2000 |
| CHAMP On July 15, 2000 CHAMP (CHAllenging Microsatellite Payload) spacecraft was launched. CHAMP, built by Dornier Satellitensysteme for the German research institute GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, will study the Earth's gravity and magnetic fields simultaneously at high resolution, something never before accomplished. Geophysicists hope to use the data from CHAMP to measure variability in the fields over time during CHAMP's five-year mission (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 31:07:2000 |
| Zvezda After more than two years of delays the key module of the International Space Station was launched. Russian Zvezda service module includes the life support systems and living quarters to enable the station to be occupied. It will also handle guidance and navigation of the station until Destiny, the American laboratory module, will be launched next year. Docking with ISS is scheduled for July 25 (ref: NASA JSC data). creation date: 24:07:2000 |
| Fengyun 2 On June 26, 2000 China successfully launched a meteorological satellite. The satellite, named Fengyun 2, is the second geostationary meteorological satellite launched by China and is an improved version of a satellite launched in 1997. The satellite is expected to play a crucial role in helping improve medium- and long-term weather forecasts and in monitoring the ecological environment in western China. The satellite has a designed life span of three years (ref: Xinhua News Agency news release, NORAD data). creation date: 04:07:2000 |
| IMAGE On March 25, 2000 the Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) spacecraft was launched. IMAGE is NASA mission to study the interaction between the solar wind and the Earth's magnetic field. IMAGE is the first of NASA's medium-class Explorer (MIDEX) space science missions, a program similar to the Discovery program of low-cost planetary science missions. With its four 820-foot wire antennas deployed the probe will be the longest artificial object in space (ref: NASA GSFC news release, NORAD data). creation date: 17:04:2000 |
| Multispectral Thermal Imager (MTI) A Department of Energy research satellite designed and built at Sandia National Laboratories was launched on March 12, 2000. The Multispectral Thermal Imager (MTI) spacecraft includes a sophisticated telescope that collects day and night ground images in 15 spectral bands, testing technologies that could be used on future imaging satellites for science as well as weapons treaty verification. The satellite also carries a High-energy X-ray Spectrometer (HXRS), a joint project of the U.S. and the Czech Republic, that will study a type of solar flare that can endanger astronauts and damage space equipment (ref: Sandia National Laboratories news release, NORAD data). creation date: 22:03:2000 |
| KOMPSAT On December 21, 1999 Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite (KOMPSAT) was launched. Its Instruments include a camera that will provide images that will be used to create digital elevation maps of the country, a multispectral imager to return data on biological changes in the oceans, and a sensor to study the Earth's ionosphere and the effect of radiation on electronics in space (ref: Korea Aerospace Research Institute, NORAD data ). creation date: 05:04:2000 |
| ACRIMSAT On December 21, 1999 ACRIMSAT satellite was launched. ACRIMSAT spacecraft carries the Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor (ACRIM) III instrument, which is the third in a series of long-term solar-monitoring tools built by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Scientists involved with the project hope to measure small changes in the solar irradiance that may be linked to climatic changes on Earth (ref: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NORAD data). creation date: 05:04:2000 |
| Terra On December 18, 1999 Terra satellite - joint US, Canadian and Japanese earth observation mission - was launched. Terra, formerly known as EOS AM-1, is the first in a series of ten spacecraft to be launched in the next decade to study the Earth and its environment from orbit as part of NASA's Earth Observing System (ref: NASA’s EOS Project Science Office, NORAD data). creation date: 27:12:1999 |
| XMM On December 10, 1999 European Space Agency's X-ray Multi-Mirror satellite (XMM) was launched. XMM is the most powerful X-ray telescope ever placed in orbit, and the largest science satellite ever built in Europe. The satellite's highly eccentric orbit will allow astronomers to make very long and uninterrupted observations. XMM’s new technology makes it much more sensitive than even NASA's recently launched Chandra X-ray Observatory (ref: ESA Space Science Department, NORAD data). creation date: 19:12:1999 |
| IKONOS IKONOS was launched on September 24, 1999 into a sun-synchronous, near-polar, circular low-Earth orbit. It is the world's first commercial, high-resolution imaging satellite that should collect one-meter resolution black-and-white images and four-meter resolution color images of the Earth (ref: Space Imaging News Releases of Sept. 24, 1999: NORAD data). creation date: 14:11:1999 |
| Yohkoh Add to RedShift another satellite - Yohkoh, a Japanese space solar observatory (with NASA's participation). The objective of the mission launched onAugust 30, 1991 is to study hard and soft X-rays and energetic neutrons emitting by solar flares (Yohkoh means a "sunbeam" in Japanese). It was the only dedicated satellite studying the Sun during the last peak solar cycle activity (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 10:10:1999 |
| RXTE You have probably noticed on our Deep-Sky Update Page that many current discoveries of X-ray sources (and not only them!) are made with help of Rossi X-RayTiming Explorer (RXTE) satellite. RXTE was launched in January 1996 and operatesat an altitude of 580 km (which corresponds to the orbital period of about 90 minutes): the inclination of its orbital plane to the geoequator is of about 23 degrees. Surely, such a remarkable spacecraft deserves to be included to your RedShift catalog (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 03:10:1999 |
| TRACE Get a good example of sun-synchronous satellite (which precesses by about a degree each day to keep the same attitude relative to the Sun as the Earth travels around our luminary). This is the TRACE (Transitional Region and Coronal Explorer) satellite designed by an international team of scientists from the USA, the U.K., Sweden, and the Netherlands to study the three-dimensional magnetic structure of the solar photosphere. On April 2, 1998 NASA launched the satellite on 600x650 km orbit with an inclination of about 98 degrees. Check the behavior of such an useful orbit, it's really interesting (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| UARS NASA's Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) was launched on September 12, 1991. It studies the physics and chemistry of the upper atmosphere, long-term climate change. In order to have a larger field of view by the satellite's instruments, an unusual correcting maneuver is regularly performed for UARS. Every 36 days the spacecraft is rotated through 180 degrees, thus it can see the opposite hemisphere along its way. As a result, the coverage totals to a range of latitude 80 S- 80 N (ref: Goddard DAAC Help Desk: NORAD data). creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Chandra X-ray Observatory NASA's newest space telescope Chandra X-ray Observatory deployed by the crew of Columbia (STS-93) this July has to provide scientists with unique x-ray images of many mysterious objects in the Universe, to study the sources of enormous amount of energy being emitted from the nuclei of active galaxies, and may be to find... the "Dark Matter". Here the updated orbit of the Observatory is: it is already close to the final one, i.e., highly elliptical, at the maximum attitude of 87,000 miles (about one-third of the way to the Moon) (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 05:04:2000 |
| ROSAT The predecessor of Chandra was ROSAT, the Roentgen SATellite, a joint project between Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Launched on June 1, 1990 and turned off quite recently, on February 12, 1999, the mission yielded a lot of outstanding scientific results (more than 80,000 new X-ray sources were detected, the first All-Sky Survey at soft X-rays has been performed). Check the current orbit of that remarkable satellite which is really a "landmark" in the history of extra-terrestrial astronomy (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Compton Gamma Ray Observatory The second NASA's great observatory flying in space now is the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory launched by the crew of Atlantis on April 5, 1991. The satellite carries four scientific instruments developed for studying the Universe in a wide band of electromagnetic spectrum. The sensitivity of all the instruments is at least anorder of magnitude better than that of any previous similar mission (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 05:04:2000 |
| Hubble Space Telescope Add to your User's catalog the current orbit of Hubble Space Telescope, a 2.4-meter reflecting telescope that was deployed in Earth orbit from the space shuttle Discovery on 25 April 1990. Since that time the HST made and returned toEarth a giant stream of precise and unique measurements of stars and other objects of the Universe. This extra-atmospheric telescope has become a break-through and a milestone in history of astronomical observations (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 05:04:2000 |
| SNOE The Student Nitric Oxide Explorer (SNOE) is a small scientific satellite designed and built at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics of the University of Colorado. It was launched on February 26, 1998, and studies the density of nitric oxide in the Earth's upper atmosphere affected by the Sun and the magnetosphere (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| OKEAN-O On July 17, 1999 after 10 days' delay a Zenit-2 booster carrying Ukrainian-Russian remote sensing satellite OKEAN-O blasted off Kazakhstan's Baikonur cosmodrome. The delay was due to the ban lifted by Kazakh government on launches from Baikonur after a crush of Proton rocket in early July. OKEAN-O should carry out oceanographic study for one year, but unfortunately, the control of the satellite was failed soon after the launch (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| FUSE On June 24, 1999 NASA launched an ultraviolet telescope, the Far UltravioletSpectroscopic Explorer (FUSE), to a 480-mile-high orbit around the Earth. The goal of the mission is studying the abundance of heavy hydrogen in space that should say a lot about the very beginning of the Universe, just after the "BigBang" (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 05:04:2000 |
| QuikScat A new Earth weather satellite QuikScat is launched by NASA on June 20, 1999. The satellite is to provide the scientists with the unique data on the most destructive hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones storming over the Pacific and the Atlantic. Such global ocean phenomenon as El Nino/La Nina are of special interest (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| MGS Mars Global Surveyor begins its primary mapping mission in March 1999 after about1.5 years' airbraking phase when its initial high-elliptical orbit around Mars has been gradually circularized. It has been a pioneering operation for control of a spacecraft at Mars. MGS will make a photographic map of the entire planet duringone full Martian year (687 Earth days) and study the planet's topography, magnetic field, mineral composition and atmosphere. The mapping orbit was designed so that Surveyor passes over a given part of Mars at the same local time each orbit. It's really worth to check it (ref: JPL solution). creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| MIR Since August 28, 1999 when the crew left Russian space station MIR, it flew in autonomous mode. On March 23, 2001, after 15 years in orbit, 137 tonne Mir station crashed safely to Earth in a fiery plunge into the Pacific (ref.: NORAD data). creation date: 06:04:2000 |
| Mars Observer Follow Mars Observer cruise from Earth to Mars and then to... somewhere. Nobody knows exactly what had happened with the spacecraft and why connection with MO has failed just few days before its getting to Mars in late summer 1993 (ref: JPL solution). creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Where can Mars Observer be now? Most likely the spacecraft passed by Mars and began "an independent life" on a heliocentric orbit. May be just you will be lucky to find it somehow! creation date: 30:09:1999 |
 | POES The Polar Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) Program is a cooperative effort between NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the United Kingdom and France. The POES mission is composed of two polar orbiting satellites, which primarily provide long-range weather forecasting. Operating as a pair, these satellites ensure that non-visible data, for any region of the Earth, are no more than six hours old. |
| NOAA-16 NOAA-16, launched on September 21, 2000, will collect meteorological data and transmit the information to users around the world to enhance weather forecasting. In the United States, the data will be used primarily by NOAA's National Weather Service for its long-range weather and climate forecasts (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 03:10:2000 |
| NOAA-15 In May 1998, a new series of operational environmental satellites began with the launch of NOAA-15. The new satellite carries a series of instruments which have been modified and improved from previous NOAA-series satellites still in orbit and operational (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 03:10:2000 |
| CLUSTER II On July 16, 2000 first two Cluster II space science spacecraft were launched, which were followed by two more on August 9, 2000. During the two-year mission four Cluster II craft will fly in formation studying the interaction between the solar wind and the Earth's magnetic field in three dimensions. Cluster II is a European Space Agency mission with some American contributions to the project. The satellite names were chosen in a contest among peoples of 15 ESA member states. |
| CLUSTER II/FM8 (Tango) One of four Cluster II craft carrying identical suites of 11 instruments (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 22:08:2000 |
| CLUSTER II/FM5 (Rumba) One of four Cluster II craft carrying identical suites of 11 instruments (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 22:08:2000 |
| CLUSTER II/FM6 (Salsa) One of four currently launched Cluster II craft carrying identical suites of 11 instruments (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 25:07:2000 |
| CLUSTER II/FM7 (Samba) One of two currently launched Cluster II craft carrying identical suites of 11 instruments (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 25:07:2000 |
| Space Shuttle Program Space Shuttle is a reusable spacecraft, designed for transporting humans and cargo to and from orbit around the earth. Space Shuttle Program was developed and is managed by National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA is also responsible for coordinating international and joint projects involving Space Transportation System (NASA's name for the overall Shuttle program).The main constituents of the Space Shuttle system are: an orbiter spacecraft, two solid rocket boosters, an external tank for fuel and oxidizer and three Space Shuttle main engines. |
| STS-105 STS-105 is the 11-th shuttle flight to the International Space Station. The main objective of Discovery\'s mission is the exchange of resident crews living aboard the space station.The Expedition Three crew of the space station launching aboard Discovery is made up of an astronaut and two cosmonauts. The second major objective of the mission is to transfer nearly four tons of fresh food, clothing and equipmentto the station, including a new command-and-control computer. Two spacewalks are planned while Discovery is docked to the ISS to deliver and install equipment and make repairs. Discovery will also carry a number of small scientific payloads. Expedition Three will remain in space until December, conducting a variety of science experiments and three spacewalks outside the Russian segment of the station. The space shuttle Discovery was launched on August 10, 2001 and is scheduled to land on August 22 at Kennedy Space Center (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 01:01:1970 |
| STS-104 On July 12, 2001 space shuttle Atlantis was launched with a five-member crew. Top priority of the STS-104 mission is installation on the International Space Station of the 164 million-dollar aluminum airlock known as "Quest". This will allow ISS residents to wear NASA spacesuits and venture into space from a U.S. module without the assistance of visiting shuttles. Currently, ISS crews must wear Russian spacesuits and exit from a Russian segment of the station. The installation will use the station's new Canadarm2 robotic arm during the mission's first spacewalk. Astronauts will also face two more spacewalks to complete the installation by fitting four storage tanks of nitrogen and oxygen gases to the new airlock's exterior. The shuttle is scheduled to land on July 23 at Kennedy Space Center (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 17:07:2001 |
| STS-100 STS-100 is the ninth space shuttle flight to visit the International Space Station. The primary goal of the mission is installation and checkout of the Canadarm 2 space crane, a billion-dollar piece of complex hardware. The operation of the arm is critical to the capability to continue assembly of the International Space Station and to attach a new airlock to the station on the subsequent shuttle flight. The crew will conduct at least two space walks to install the robot arm, which is also known as the Space Station Remote Manipulator System, and the antenna. Endeavour will also deliver an Italian-built cargo carrier filled with 10,000 pounds of gear. Endeavour's crew comes from the United States, Canada, Italy and Russia, making this the most internationally diverse space crew ever. The space shuttle Endeavour was launched on April 19, 2001 and is scheduled to land on April 30 at Kennedy Space Center (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 24:04:2001 |
| STS-102 On March 8, 2001 space shuttle Discovery was launched with a seven-member crew. The primary objective of the 12-day mission is to transport the first replacement team for space station Alpha. Cosmonaut Yury Usachev will assume command of the space station once Discovery undocks. Discovery will also deliver the Italian-built Leonardo Multipurpose Logistics Module (MPLM). The module was designed to be returned to the shuttle's cargo bay and flown back to Earth after its contents have been emptied. During the mission, astronauts will conduct two spacewalks to install equipment to the outside of the US laboratory. They will also prepare a system for attaching a future Canadian arm. The shuttle is scheduled to land on March 20 at Kennedy Space Center (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 13:03:2001 |
| STS-98 On February 7, 2001 space shuttle Atlantis lifted off toward space station Alpha with the U.S. laboratory module. The laboratory module, named Destiny, is the single most expensive piece of the space station, which will remain under construction in Earth orbit until 2006. During the six-day assembly, Atlantis' five-member crew will use the shuttle's robotic arm to hoist the 32,000-pound module onto the station and make three spacewalks to secure and link it to nearly three dozen utility lines. Besides being a hub for science research, Destiny will provide a fourth room for the three men living aboard the space station. The space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to land on February 18 (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 13:02:2001 |
| STS-97 On November 30, 2000 the shuttle Endeavour was launched with a five-man crew, which includes four American astronauts and a Canadian mission specialist, on a mission to equip the international space station with a new American solar power module. The 35,000-pound module will quadruple the station's present electrical output, which is adequate only for the operation of critical life support and communications systems. When fully deployed, the arrays will stretch 240 feet in length and 38 feet in width. With a peak power of 65 kilowatts, the arrays will be the most powerful ever flown in space. Mounting and activating the power tower will require three spacewalks to get the job done. The space shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to land on December 11 (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 12:12:2000 |
| STS-92 During its 100th flight the shuttle will deliver to the ISS the Z1 truss, a component attached to the Unity module that will be the base for what will eventually be a lattice-work structure that will serve as the station's backbone. During their 11-day mission, the seven-member Discovery crew is scheduled to conduct four spacewalks, which combined will last nearly 30 hours, longer than any previous ISS mission and longer than any ISS assembly mission in the near future. The space shuttle Discovery was launched on October 11, 2000 and is scheduled to land on October 22 (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 24:10:2000 |
| STS-106 The launch of STS-106 on September 8, 2000 begins a new era in human space exploration. The Space Shuttle Atlantis crew will begin preparing the station for the arrival of its first permanent crew, which is slated for early November. The Atlantis crew will stock the space station with supplies, unpack gear, and hook up equipment needed by its first residents. The mission also includes a six-and-a-half hour spacewalk by Astronaut Ed Lu and Cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko to a point 100 feet above the Shuttle's cargo bay, the farthest any tethered spacewalker has ever ventured. The space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to land on September 19 (ref: NASA JSC data). creation date: 12:09:2000 |
| STS-90 The prime mission objective for the STS-90 Neurolab mission was to conduct research that will contribute to a better understanding of the human nervous system. The mission was a joint venture of six space agencies and seven U.S. research agencies. Nine participating countries have contributed 31 experiments for the mission, which was the last for the Spacelab module. The module, which was developed by the European Space Agency, has been phased out as the International Space Station comes on line. The space shuttle Columbia lifted off on April 17, 1998 and landed safely on May 3 (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 21:06:2000 |
| STS-101 The development of the International Space Station (ISS) continues with the launch of Atlantis on the STS-101 mission on May 20, 2000. Atlantis' seven-member crew will deliver supplies and equipment and perform repairs on the station. Two crew members will perform a 6.5 hour space walk the day after docking to install a Russian "Strela" cargo boom on the outside of Zarya, as well as perform maintenance on the station. The STS-101 crew will be responsible for preparing the station for the arrival of the Zvezda Service Module. The shuttle is scheduled to land on May 29 (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 21:06:2000 |
| STS-91 The three-year joint American-Russian experience on the Russian space station Mir came to an end with mission STS-91, the ninth and final docking between the shuttle and Mir. The two spacecraft spent four days orbiting together as the two crews transfered equipment and supplies. STS-91 recovered NASA astronaut Andy Thomas from the Mir station and took Russian space chief and ex-cosmonaut Valeri Ryumin to Mir for an inspection tour of the ageing station. STS-91 also carried into space the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, which searched for anti-matter and dark matter in space (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 06:06:2000 |
| STS-95 On October 29, 1998 after more than 36 years after his first historical flight senator John Glenn returned to space as part of seven-person crew. During the mission the crew conducted over 80 scientific experiments in areas ranging from human body functioning research to studying of solar activity. Discovery mission successfully ended on November 7th, 1998 (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 04:05:2000 |
| STS-88 The STS-88 "Unity" mission was the first manned space station construction flight. The primary purpose of the mission was to carry into orbit and attach the Unity connecting module to the already launched Russian Zarya module using the Shuttle's robotic arm. Three space walks were performed to connect the modules and prepare for future space station assembly. Endeavour was launched on December 4th, 1998 and landed safely on December 15th, 1988 (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 14:03:2000 |
| STS-96 The major objective of the first shuttle mission of the year 1999 was the transfer of almost two tons of logistical supplies from the shuttle Discovery to the Unity and Zarya modules, the first components of the International Space Station, launched in 1998. During Discovery's 10-day mission the astronauts also conducted a spacewalk to install a construction crane and make inspections. STS-96 was the first flight to dock to the International Space Station. The mission successfully ended on June 6th (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 01:03:2000 |
| STS-99 The primary objective of STS-99, known as the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission, is to acquire the highest-resolution topographic map of the world. The SRTM mission will produce maps of Earth 30 times as precise as the best global maps in use today. SRTM is an international project with participation of the German space agency DLR. To perform mapping operations astronauts on the space shuttle Endeavour will deploy a 200-foot mast out the shuttle's cargo bay, which is the largest rigid structure ever flown in space. The shuttle is scheduled to land back on February 22 (ref: NASA JSC solution). creation date: 15:02:2000 |
| STS-103 The primary objective of STS-103 is the servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope. Three spacewalks will be carried out on successive days starting December 22 to perform the repairs and upgrades to the space telescope. The shuttle is scheduled to land on December 27 (ref: NASA JSFC solution). creation date: 22:12:1999 |
| STS-93 For the first time a space shuttle was commanded by a woman, Eileen Collins. The flight of Columbia (STS-93) lasted 5 days, and the main objective of the mission - deploying a 45-foot world's most powerful X-ray telescope Chandra, has been successfully achieved (ref: NASA JSFC solution). creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| INTERBALL INTERBALL is a joint program by Russia, ESA, NASA and Japan. The aim of two satellites INTERBALL is studying effects of the solar-terrestrial interaction in the Earth magnetosphere. |
| Tail The first probe, TAIL, was launched on August 3, 1995 at an extremely high altitude orbit (200 000 km) to investigate the magnetospheric tail (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 17:10:1999 |
| Aurora The second probe, AURORA, was launched on August 29, 1996 and studies the polar aurora (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 17:10:1999 |
| METEOSAT The series of meteorological satellites METEOSAT became the first European application program in the space. Since the launch of METEOSAT-1 on November 23, 1977 seven satellites were inserted into a geostationary orbit. Being on this orbit a satellite is located always above the same point of the earth surface, because the satellite's orbital period is equal to 24 hours there, and the orbit's inclination to the geoequator is zero. Three satellites METEOSAT are at present operational: |
| Meteosat-7 METEOSAT-7 is the latest spacecraft of the series, it is located at the main working position of 0° since 3rd June 1998 (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 05:04:2000 |
| Meteosat-6 METEOSAT-6 is the in-orbit stand-by spacecraft now and is moved to 9°W (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 05:04:2000 |
| Meteosat-5 METEOSAT-5 is located at around 63°E and still performs some scientific experiments and observations (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 05:04:2000 |
| GOES There are normally two US meteorological satellites, GOES-EAST and GOES-WEST, in geostationary orbit over the equator. The former monitors North and South America and most of the Atlantic Ocean, and the latter surveys North America and the Pacific Ocean basin. This program operates for 25 years already, and today it is one of the leading world services for the weather forecasting. The two satellites observe about 60 percent of the Earth's surface at each moment and send images of the upcoming hurricanes, thunderstorms, snowfalls, and just clouds to meteorologists at NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). The satellites are occasionally exchanged with new ones on expiry of their life-time or failures. Look at this pair. |
| Goes-L GOES-L, which will be renamed GOES-11 once it reaches its desired orbital position later in May, will serve as an on-orbit backup to GOES-10 and GOES-8 (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 17:05:2000 |
| Goes-8 GOES-8 serves as GOES-EAST since May 1994 (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 05:04:2000 |
| Goes-10 GOES-10 operates as GOES-WEST since August 1998 (ref: NORAD data). creation date: 05:04:2000 |
| Cassini Now it's good time to download to RedShift the interplanetary orbit of Cassini spacecraft, a joint project of NASA, European Space Agency and Italian Space Agency. This probe was launched about two years ago to study the ringed planet Saturn and its mysterious satellite Titan, but in summer 1999 it came back! On August 18, 1999 the spacecraft passed just 1,2 thousands kilometers from the Earth's surface to perform a so-called "swing-by" maneuver, where the gravity field of our planet, like a giant sling, accelerated Cassini on its long way to the far planet. Earlier, two Venus swing-by were executed and another - Jupiter Swing-by– is scheduled at the end of 2000. This is an excellent scheme of interplanetary flight which saves much fuel ("delta V") and thus allows charging the spacecraft with more scientific payload. Place yourself on the spacecraft which approaches either Venus or Earth, or, at last, Saturn, then lock the target planet as the |
| Cassini: orbit 1 Launch of Cassini on Oct. 15, 1997 - Trajectory Correction Maneuver #1 (TCM#1) on Nov. 9, 1997. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Cassini: orbit 2 TCM#1 - TCM#2 on Feb. 25, 1998. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Cassini: orbit 3 TCM#2 - Venus Swing-by 1 on Apr. 26, 1998. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Cassini: orbit 4 Venus Swing-by 1 - Deep Space Maneuver (DSM) on Dec. 3, 1998. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Cassini: orbit 5 DSM - TCM#6 on Feb. 4, 1999 (several scheduled TCMs were canceled). creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Cassini: orbit 6 TCM#6 - TCM#7 on May 18, 1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Cassini: orbit 7 TCM#7 - Venus Swing-by 2 on June 24, 1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Cassini: orbit 8 Venus Swing-by 2 - TCM#9 on July 6, 1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Cassini: orbit 9 TCM#9 - TCM#10 on July 19, 1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Cassini: orbit 10 TCM#10 - TCM#11 on Aug. 2, 1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Cassini: orbit 11 TCM#11 - TCM#12 on Aug. 11, 1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Cassini: orbit 12 TCM#12 - Earth Swing-by on Aug. 18, 1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Cassini: orbit 13 Earth Swing-by - TCM#13 on Sep. 9, 1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Cassini: orbit 14 TCM#13 - Jupiter Swing-by on Dec. 30, 2000. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Cassini: orbit 15 Jupiter Swing-by - Saturn's system on July 1, 2004. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Cassini: total cruise orbit The entire Cassini's interplanetary trajectory: Oct. 15, 1997 - July 1, 2004. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Planet-B Japanese Planet-B ("Nozomi") mission to Mars began on July 4, 1998. It is designed to study the Martian upper atmosphere and magnetic field of the Red planet. The spacecraft was initially scheduled to reach Mars in 10 months after the launch, but during the trajectory correction maneuver (TCM) on December 20, 1998 a technical problem did not allow to execute the maneuver properly. As a result, it became impossible to perform the initial navigational plan, and it has been changed to minimize the further consumption of fuel rest aboard the spacecraft. The new mission profile developed "in real time" by flight dynamics engineers from ISAS (Sagamaihara, Japan) includes two close approaches of Planet-B to Earth (swing-by) and use of the planet's gravity for "free" accelerating the spacecraft. However, such a reduced fare leads to delay of the spacecraft arrival at Mars till the beginning of 2004. Here the new flight scheme of Planet-B is (ref: ISAS solution): |
| Planet-B: orbit 1 Start of the new flight scheme - TCM#1 on Feb.27, 1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Planet-B: orbit 2 TCM#1 - TCM#2 on Sept.1, 2002. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Planet-B: orbit 3 TCM#2 - 1st Earth Swing-by on Dec.20, 2002. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Planet-B: orbit 4 1st Earth Swing-by - TCM#3 on March 20, 2003. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Planet-B: orbit 5 TCM#3 - 2nd Earth Swing-by (powered, =TCM#4) (on June 19, 2003). creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Planet-B: orbit 6 2nd Earth Swing-by - TCM#5 on Sep.15, 2003. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Planet-B: orbit 7 TCM#5 - Mars Orbit Insertion on Jan.1, 2004. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Planet-B: orbit 8 Mars Orbit Insertion - highly eccentric Mars "transfer" orbit creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Planet-B: total cruise orbit The entire PLANET-B cruise trajectory. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Stardust Stardust spacecraft launched on February 7, 1999 is the first mission to bring back some material from beyond the Moon. The main goal of the mission is to encounter with comet Wild 2 at a low velocity (6.1 km/s), collect samples of the comet medium and deliver them to the Earth. The flight trajectory is unusual to ensure low cost of the mission. The spacecraft circles the Sun two times before reaching the comet on January 2, 2004 and returns to us at the end of the third loop, on January 15, 2006. Check this fantastic flight yourselves and enjoy the RedShift views of encounter with Wild 2 and approach to the Earth! (Ref: NAV JPL solution at NAIF JPL). |
| Stardust: orbit 1 Launch on February 7, 1999 - Deep Space Maneuver #1 (DSM1) in January, 2000. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Stardust: orbit 2 DSM1 - Earth Swing-by at the beginning of 2001. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Stardust: orbit 3 Earth gravity assist (Earth Swing-by). creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Stardust: orbit 4 Earth Swing-by - DSM2 at the end of 2001. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Stardust: orbit 5 DSM2 -DSM3 in July 2003. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Stardust: orbit 6 DSM3 - comet Wild 2 encounter (on January 2, 2002) - Trajectory Correction Maneuver to target the spacecraft toward the Earth (in February 2002). creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Stardust: orbit 7 TCM - approach to the Earth (the end of 2005). creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Stardust: orbit 8 Approach and arrival to the Earth (on January 15, 2006). creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Stardust: the total orbit The entire Stardust trajectory: January 7, 1999 - January 15, 2006. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Mars Climate Orbiter About every two years there is a launch opportunity for missions to Mars. During the December 1998-January 1999 two spacecraft were launched to investigate the Red Planet and its environment. The main goal of the first mission, Mars Climate Orbiter (MCO), was careful studying Martian atmosphere for about one Mars year (687 days). MCO should also provide relay support for the second spacecraft, Mars Polar Lander (MPL) and, likely, for future Mars missions. However, the spacecraft crashed on Mars just after arrival to that planet because of a control error… Mars Climate Orbiter was launched on December 11, 1998. Its interplanetary orbit was of so-called 2nd type, i.e., the spacecraft will take more than 180 degrees around the Sun. Several Trajectory Correction Maneuvers (TCM) will be applied to the MCO to get it to Mars. Download and check its orbit at different parts of its 9 1/2 months' (not "weeks"...) cruise from Earth to Mars (ref: NAV JPL solution at NAIF JPL). |
| MCO: orbit 1 MCO hyperbolic launch trajectory from the Earth: Dec.11 - 14, 1998. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| MCO: orbit 2 MCO heliocentric orbit before TCM-1: Dec.15-21, 1998. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| MCO: orbit 3 MCO heliocentric orbit from TCM-1 to TCM-2: Dec. 22, 1998 - Jan. 26, 1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| MCO: orbit 4 MCO heliocentric orbit from TCM-2 to TCM-3: Jan. 27 - Jule 26, 1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| MCO: orbit 5 MCO heliocentric orbit from TCM-3 to TCM-4: July 27 - Sept. 14, 1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| MCO: orbit 6 MCO heliocentric orbit from TCM-4 up to Mars insertion orbit: Sept. 15 - 21, 1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| MCO: orbit 7 MCO hyperbolic insertion orbit around Mars: Sept. 22-23, 1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| MCO: total cruise path The total cruise trajectory of MCO: Dec.11, 1998 - Sept.23, 1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Mars Polar Lander Mars Polar Lander was launched on January 3, 1999. It had to reach the Red planet in early December 1999, descend on the Martian surface not far from the planet's South pole (between 75 and 78S), and work there for 90 days, at least. However, like MCO the new probe was lost upon its arrival at Mars. What happens…? The cruise trajectory of MPL is as follows: |
| MPL: orbit 1 MPL hyperbolic launch trajectory from the Earth : Jan.3 - 6, 1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| MPL: orbit 2 MPL heliocentric orbit before TCM-1: Jan.7-18, 1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| MPL: orbit 3 MPL heliocentric orbit from TCM-1 to TCM-2: Jan.19 - Feb.18, 1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| MPL: orbit 4 MPL heliocentric orbit from TCM-2 to TCM-3: Feb.19 - Oct.4, 1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| MPL: orbit 5 MPL heliocentric orbit from TCM-3 to TCM-4: Oct. 5 - Nov. 23, 1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| MPL: orbit 6 MPL heliocentric orbit from TCM-4 up to Mars insertion orbit: Nov.24 - 29, 1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| MPL: orbit 7 MPL hyperbolic insertion orbit around Mars: arrival at Mars:Nov.30 - Dec.3, 1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| MPL: total cruise orbit The total cruise trajectory of MPL: Jan. 3 - Dec. 3, 1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| NEAR At the very beginning of 1999 the spacecraft NEAR (Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous) had to reach the main goal of the mission - asteroid 433 Eros. For the first time in the history of deep space exploration a spacecraft would follow a minor planet over more than one year and study it at extremely close distance (up to few dozens km from the asteroid surface). Unfortunately, on December 20, 1998, just 21 days before the scheduled rendezvous with asteroid Eros, NEAR failed to complete a crucial engine burn and ... NEAR and Eros are now traveling in nearly identical orbits around the Sun but not together. During its cruise the spacecraft flew by another asteroid 253 Mathilde on June 27, 1997 and by the Earth on January 23, 1998. Upload and check the orbit of the spacecraft for its about four years' voyage towards Eros (ref: APL JHU solution of 12/08/1998, JPL solution # 51). |
| NEAR: orbit 1 NEAR orbit from Launch to Momentum Dump: 17- 24/02/1996. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| NEAR: orbit 2 NEAR orbit from Momentum Dump to TCM-1: 24/02 - 02/03/1996. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| NEAR: orbit 3 NEAR orbit from TCM-1 to TCM-2: 02/03-13/09/1996. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| NEAR: orbit 4 NEAR orbit from TCM-2 to TCM-3: 13/09/1996-6/01/1997. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| NEAR: orbit 5 NEAR orbit from TCM-3 to TCM-4: 6-29/01/1997. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| NEAR: orbit 6 NEAR orbit from TCM-4 to TCM-5: 29/01-18/06/1997. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| NEAR: orbit 7 NEAR orbit from TCM-5 to TCM-7 (asteroid 253 Mathilde flyby): 18/06-3/07/1997. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| NEAR: orbit 8 NEAR orbit from TCM-7 to TCM-8: 3-23/071997. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| NEAR: orbit 9 NEAR orbit from TCM-8 to TCM-9: 23/07-17/11/1997. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| NEAR: orbit 10 NEAR orbit from TCM-9 to TCM-10: 17/11/1997-9/01/1998. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| NEAR: orbit 11 NEAR orbit from TCM-10 to Earth Swingby: 9/01-21/01/1998. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| NEAR: orbit 12 NEAR: Earth Swingby (hyperbolic orbit): 21-24/01/1998. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| NEAR: orbit 13 NEAR orbit from Earth Swing-by to TCM-12: 24/01-01/04/1998. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| NEAR: orbit 14 NEAR orbit from TCM-12 to TCM-15: 01/04-14/10/1998. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| NEAR: orbit 15 NEAR orbit from TCM-15 to the 1st Rendezvous Braking Maneuver (RND): 14/10-20/12/1998. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| NEAR: orbit 16 NEAR orbit from RND-1 to RND-2: 20-28/12/1998. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| NEAR: orbit 17 NEAR orbit from RND-2 to RND-3: 16h 06m-22h 02m 28/12/1998. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| NEAR: orbit 18 NEAR orbit from RND-3 to RND-4: 28/12/1998-3/01/1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| NEAR: orbit 19 NEAR orbit from RND-4 to EROS: 3-10/01/1999. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| NEAR: orbit 20 NEAR: following EROS (planned orbit): 10/01/1999-06/02/2000 (end of the mission). creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| NEAR: total orbit The total trajectory of NEAR from its launch to EROS:Feb.17, 1996 - Feb. 6, 2000. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo Complement the cruise orbit of Galileo given on your REDSHIFT 3 CD-ROM by sets of the probe orbital elements describing its flight from one Jupiter's moon to another! (ref: JPL solution T-960110). Here they are: |
| Galileo orbit 0a from Jupiter orbit insertion to Io: Sept.13 - Dec.7, 1995. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 0b the passage Io - Jupiter apoapsis 0: Dec.7, 1995 - March16, 1996. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 0-1 the passage Jupiter apoapsis 0 - Ganymede: March 16 - June 27, 1996. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 1-1 the passage Ganymede - Jupiter apoapsis: June 27 - Aug. 2, 1996. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 1-2 the passage Jupiter apoapsis 1 - Ganymede: Aug. 2 - Sept. 6, 1996. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 2-2 the passage Ganymede- Jupiter apoapsis 2: Sept. 6 - Oct. 7, 1996. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 2-3 the passage Jupiter apoapsis 2 - Callisto: Oct. 7 - Nov. 4, 1996. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 3-3 the passage Callisto - Jupiter apoapsis 3: Nov. 4 - Nov. 27, 1996. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 3-4 the passage Jupiter apoapsis 3 - Europa: Nov. 27 - Dec.19, 1996. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 4-4 the passage Europa - Jupiter apoapsis 4: Dec. 19, 1996 - Jan. 4, 1997. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 4-5 the passage Jupiter apoapsis 4 - Europa: Jan. 4 - Jan. 20, 1997. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 5-5 the passage Europa - Jupiter apoapsis 5: Jan. 20 - Feb. 2, 1997. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 5-6 the passage Jupiter apoapsis 5 - Europa: Feb. 2 - Feb. 20, 1997. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 6-6 the passage Europa - Jupiter apoapsis 6: Feb.20 - March 14, 1997. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 6-7 the passage Jupiter apoapsis 6 - Ganymede: March 14 - Apr. 5, 1997. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 7-7 the passage Ganymede - Jupiter apoapsis 7: Apr. 5 - Apr. 21, 1997. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 7-8 the passage Jupiter apoapsis 7 - Ganymede: Apr. 21, 1997 - May 7, 1997. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 8-8 the passage Ganymede - Jupiter apoapsis 8: May 7 - June 2, 1997. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 8-9 the passage Jupiter apoapsis 8 - Callisto: June 2 - 25, 1997. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 9-9 the passage Callisto - Jupiter apoapsis 9: June 25 - Aug. 8, 1997. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 9-10 the passage Jupiter apoapsis 9 - Callisto: Aug. 8 - Sept. 17, 1997. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 10-10 the passage Callisto - Jupiter apoapsis 10: Sept. 17 - Oct. 13, 1997. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 10-11 the passage Jupiter apoapsis 10 - Europa: Oct.13 - Nov. 6, 1997. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 11-11 the passage Europa - Jupiter apoapsis 11: Nov. 6 - Nov. 28, 1997. creation date: 30:09:1999 |
| Galileo orbit 0a-11 The total trajectory of Galileo flying between Jupiter's moons: Sept.13, 1995 - Nov. 28, 1997. creation date: 30:09:1999 |