Military
NORAD ID: 33751
Int'l Code: 2009-008C
Perigee: 240.1 km
Apogee: 18,033.2 km
Inclination: 2.1 °
Period: 320.3 minutes
Semi major axis: 15507 km
Launch date: February 12, 2009
Source: France (FR)
Comments: 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.
Two Line Element Set (TLE):
1 33751U 09008C 13339.93228943 .00026457 00000-0 17039-2 0 3883
2 33751 002.1102 359.6673 5736881 044.7099 349.4006 04.49556482 51837
Source: AFSPC
NASA's NSSDC Master Catalog entry for SPIRALE A
