Military
NORAD ID: 33751
Int'l Code: 2009-008C
Perigee: 263.5 km
Apogee: 17,849.1 km
Inclination: 2.1 °
Period: 317.8 minutes
Semi major axis: 15427 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 14065.73364764 .00015399 00000-0 16037-2 0 4409
2 33751 002.0786 271.0619 5699537 223.5277 319.3645 04.53072904 55939
Source: AFSPC
NASA's NSSDC Master Catalog entry for SPIRALE A
