SPIRALE B

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SPIRALE B is classified as:

Military

NORAD ID: 33752

Int'l Code: 2009-008D

Perigee: 263.5 km

Apogee: 28,263.5 km

Inclination: 2.0 °

Period: 491.6 minutes

Semi major axis: 20634 km

RCS: 0.5012 m² (medium)

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

SPIRALE B 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 33752U 09008D   24137.25470147  .00006788  00000-0  14437-2 0  9994
2 33752   1.9507  85.3397 6784738 204.0345  96.8324  2.92894067145166

Source of the keplerian elements: AFSPC