ISIS (satellite)

ISIS 1 /ISIS-A
OperatorCSA / NASA
COSPAR ID1969-009A
SATCAT no.03669
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerRCA Victor
Launch mass241.0 kilograms (531.3 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date30 January 1969, 06:43:00 (1969-01-30UTC06:43Z) UTC
RocketDelta E1 485/D65
Launch siteVandenberg SLC-2E
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLEO
Eccentricity0.017475
Perigee altitude578 kilometres (359 mi)
Apogee altitude3,526 kilometres (2,191 mi)
Inclination82.42º
Period128.42 minutes
ISIS 2 (ISIS-B)
OperatorCSA / NASA
COSPAR ID1971-024A
SATCAT no.05104
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerRCA Victor
Launch mass264.0 kilograms (582.0 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date01 April 1971, 02:53:00 (1971-04-01UTC02:53Z) UTC
RocketDelta E1
Launch siteVandenberg SLC-2E
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLEO
Eccentricity0.0045
Perigee altitude1,358 kilometres (844 mi)
Apogee altitude1,458 kilometres (906 mi)
Inclination88.1º
Period113.6 minutes

ISIS 1 and 2 ("International Satellites for Ionospheric Studies") were the third and fourth in a series of Canadian satellites launched to study the ionosphere over one complete solar cycle. After the success of Canada's Alouette 1, Canada and the United States jointly sent up three more satellites in the ISIS program. The first was named Alouette 2 (after originally being named ISIS-X). As was the case for the Alouette satellites, RCA Ltd. of Montreal was the prime contractor for both ISIS 1 and 2.[1]

A third satellite, ISIS 3, was scheduled for construction, but when the government's focus shifted towards communications satellites, it was cancelled in 1969. The funds were instead used to produce the Communications Technology Satellite (also known as Hermes), which was launched in 1976.[2]

  1. ^ Agency, Canadian Space (2000-06-16). "Building on the Success of Alouette with ISIS I and II". www.asc-csa.gc.ca. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  2. ^ "Alouette 1 – Celebrating 50 Years of Canada in Space". SpaceQ. 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2021-04-09.