Military
NORAD ID: 33751
Int'l Code: 2009-008C
Perigee: 201.8 km
Apogee: 18,642.8 km
Inclination: 2.0 °
Period: 329.2 minutes
Semi major axis: 15793 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 13170.27604650 .00051080 00000-0 12759-2 0 2610
2 33751 001.9745 167.5689 5838254 070.7239 341.5764 04.37416574 44157
Source: AFSPC
NASA's NSSDC Master Catalog entry for SPIRALE A
