Polar (satellite)

Polar
Polar is the second of NASA's Global Geospace Science program
NamesGGS/Polar, ISTP/Polar, Polar Plasma Laboratory
Mission typeEarth observation
OperatorNASA
COSPAR ID1996-013A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.23802
Websitehttp://pwg.gsfc.nasa.gov/polar/
Mission durationPlanned: 2 years
Final: 12 years, 2 months, 3 days
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerLockheed Martin Astro Space
Launch mass1,297 kg (2,859 lb)[1]
Dry mass1,028 kg (2,266 lb)[1]
Payload mass264 kg (582 lb)[1]
Dimensions2.4 × 1.8 m (7.9 × 5.9 ft)[1]
Power440 watts[1]
Start of mission
Launch dateFebruary 24, 1996, 11:24 (1996-02-24UTC11:24) UTC[2]
RocketDelta II 7925-10 D233
Launch siteVandenberg SLC-2W
End of mission
DisposalDecommissioned
DeactivatedApril 28, 2008 (2008-04-29)[3]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeHighly elliptical
Semi-major axis35,490.94 km (22,053.05 mi)
Eccentricity0.701992
Perigee altitude4,198.46 km (2,608.80 mi)
Apogee altitude54,027.15 km (33,570.91 mi)
Inclination78.63°
Period1,109.02 minutes
RAAN260.60°
Argument of perigee306.12°
Mean anomaly7.84°
Mean motion1.30°
EpochAugust 19, 2018, 04:42:45 UTC[4]
Revolution no.10,771
← Wind
SOHO →

The Global Geospace Science (GGS) Polar satellite was a NASA science spacecraft designed to study the polar magnetosphere and aurorae. 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.

  1. ^ a b c d e "Polar". eoPortal. European Space Agency. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  2. ^ "Polar". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. NASA. March 21, 2017. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  3. ^ Layton, Laura (April 28, 2008). "'Broken Heart' Image the Last for NASA's Long-Lived Polar Mission". NASA. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  4. ^ "Polar - Orbit". Heavens-Above. August 19, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2018.