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Automatically update physical parameters of the spacecraft's orbit, see Template:Orbit for more information
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| decay_date =


| orbit_epoch = 10 January 2015, 04:14:12&nbsp;UTC<ref name="n2yo">{{cite web|url=http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=23802|title=POLAR Satellite details 1996-013A NORAD 23802|publisher=N2YO|date=10 January 2015|accessdate=11 January 2015}}</ref>
| orbit_epoch = 20 January 2015, 23:01:26&nbsp;UTC<ref name="n2yo">{{cite web|url=http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=23802|title=POLAR Satellite details 1996-013A NORAD 23802|publisher=N2YO|date=20 January 2015|accessdate=25 January 2015}}</ref>
| orbit_reference = [[geocentric orbit|Geocentric]]
| orbit_reference = [[geocentric orbit|Geocentric]]
| orbit_regime = [[Highly elliptical orbit|Highly elliptical]]
| orbit_regime = [[Highly elliptical orbit|Highly elliptical]]
| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|3148|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name="n2yo"/>
| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|3125|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name="n2yo"/>
| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|55090|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name="n2yo"/>
| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|55113|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name="n2yo"/>
| orbit_inclination = 78.97&nbsp;degrees<ref name="n2yo"/>
| orbit_inclination = 78.94&nbsp;degrees<ref name="n2yo"/>
| orbit_semimajor = {{convert|35490.73|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name="n2yo"/>
| orbit_semimajor = {{convert|35490.71|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name="n2yo"/>
| orbit_eccentricity = 0.7317648<ref name="n2yo"/>
| orbit_eccentricity = 0.7324219<ref name="n2yo"/>
| orbit_period = 1109.04&nbsp;minutes<ref name="n2yo"/>
| orbit_period = 1109.04&nbsp;minutes<ref name="n2yo"/>
| orbit_RAAN = 292.60&nbsp;degrees<ref name="n2yo"/>
| orbit_RAAN = 292.36&nbsp;degrees<ref name="n2yo"/>
| orbit_arg_periapsis = 1.00&nbsp;degrees<ref name="n2yo"/>
| orbit_arg_periapsis = 0.55&nbsp;degrees<ref name="n2yo"/>
| orbit_mean_anomaly = 1.210&nbsp;degrees<ref name="n2yo"/>
| orbit_mean_anomaly = 1.210&nbsp;degrees<ref name="n2yo"/>
| orbit_mean_motion = 1.210<ref name="n2yo"/>
| orbit_mean_motion = 1.210<ref name="n2yo"/>

Revision as of 11:38, 25 January 2015

Polar
Polar diagram
Mission typeEarth observation
OperatorNASA
COSPAR ID1996-013A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.23802
WebsitePolar home page
Mission duration12 years
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerLockheed Martin Space Systems
Launch mass1,300 kg (2,900 lb)
Power333 watts
Start of mission
Launch dateFebruary 24, 1996, 11:24:00 (1996-02-24UTC11:24Z) UTC
RocketDelta II 7925-10
Launch siteVandenberg SLC-2W
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeHighly elliptical
Semi-major axis35,490.71 km (22,052.90 mi)[1]
Eccentricity0.7324219[1]
Perigee altitude3,125 km (1,942 mi)[1]
Apogee altitude55,113 km (34,246 mi)[1]
Inclination78.94 degrees[1]
Period1109.04 minutes[1]
RAAN292.36 degrees[1]
Argument of perigee0.55 degrees[1]
Mean anomaly1.210 degrees[1]
Mean motion1.210[1]
Epoch20 January 2015, 23:01:26 UTC[1]

The Global Geospace Science (GGS) Polar Satellite was a NASA science spacecraft designed to study the polar magnetosphere and aurora. It was launched into orbit in February 1996, and continued operations until the program was terminated in April 2008. The spacecraft remains in orbit, though it is now inactive. Polar is the sister ship to GGS Wind.

Launch

It was designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin, and launched at 11:23:59.997 UTC on February 24, 1996 aboard a McDonnell Douglas Delta II 7925-10 rocket from launch pad 2W at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc, California, to study the polar magnetosphere.

The spacecraft was placed into a highly elliptical orbit with apogee at 9 Earth radii and perigee at 1.8 Earth radii (geocentric), 86 degrees inclination, with a period of around 18 hours. The apogee was initially over the northern polar region, but has since been precessing south at about 16° per year.

Operations

Sensors on the spacecraft gathered multi-wavelength imaging of the aurora, and measured the entry of plasma into the polar magnetosphere and the geomagnetic tail, the flow of plasma to and from the ionosphere, and the deposition of particle energy in the ionosphere and upper atmosphere.

The nominal mission duration was two years, but was extended several times. Polar Mission Operations were finally terminated on April 28, 2008.[2][3]

Other names

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "POLAR Satellite details 1996-013A NORAD 23802". N2YO. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  2. ^ Lockheed Martin Press Release, April 30, 2008
  3. ^ 'Broken Heart' Image the Last for NASA's Long-Lived Polar Mission
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