Military
NORAD ID: 33751
Int'l Code: 2009-008C
Perigee: 276.3 km
Apogee: 17,770.4 km
Inclination: 2.0 °
Period: 316.8 minutes
Semi major axis: 15394 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 14114.48585373 .00009334 00000-0 12478-2 0 4752
2 33751 002.0371 222.7154 5682011 320.4874 047.3039 04.54528731 58141
Source: AFSPC
NASA's NSSDC Master Catalog entry for SPIRALE A
