SAC-D

SAC-D
Artist's impression of SAC-D
Mission typeTechnology demonstration
Earth observation
OperatorCONAE
COSPAR ID2011-024A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.37673
Websiteconae.gov.ar
Mission durationPlanned: 5 years
Final: 3 years, 11 months, 28 days
Spacecraft properties
BusSmall Satellite Standard Platform[1]
ManufacturerINVAP[2]
Launch mass1,350 kg (2,977 lb)[2]
Dimensions2.7 × 5.0 m (8.9 × 16.4 ft)[2]
Power1,362 watts[2]
Start of mission
Launch date10 June 2011, 14:20:13 (2011-06-10UTC14:20:13) UTC[3]
RocketDelta II 7320-10C
Launch siteVandenberg SLC-2W
ContractorUnited Launch Alliance
End of mission
DisposalSpacecraft failure
Last contact8 June 2015 (2015-06-09)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Semi-major axis7,031.6 km (4,369.2 mi)
Eccentricity0.000181
Perigee altitude652.2 km (405.3 mi)
Apogee altitude654.7 km (406.8 mi)
Inclination98.0 degrees
Period97.8 minutes
Epoch17 December 2015, 15:47:23 UTC[4]

SAC-D (Spanish: Satélite de Aplicaciones Científicas-D, meaning Satellite for Scientific Applications-D), also known as Aquarius after its primary instrument, is an Argentine Earth science satellite built by INVAP and operated by CONAE.[1] SAC-D was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on 10 June 2011, with a planned mission life of five years.[1] Due to a power system failure, the mission was ended on 8 June 2015.[5]

  1. ^ a b c "SAC-D (Satélite de Aplicaciones Científicas-D)/Aquarius Mission". eoPortal. European Space Agency. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d "Press Kit: Aquarius/SAC-D Launch" (PDF). NASA. June 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  3. ^ Graham, William (10 June 2011). "ULA Delta II launches with the SAC-D spacecraft". NASA Spaceflight. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Aquarius - Orbit". Heavens Above. 17 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  5. ^ Clark, Stephen (17 June 2015). "International ocean research observatory fails in orbit". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 18 June 2015.