Starlette and Stella
Names | Satellite de taille adaptée avec réflecteurs laser pour les études de la terre |
---|---|
Mission type | Scientific |
Operator | CNES |
Harvard designation | 1975-010A |
COSPAR ID | 1975-010A |
SATCAT no. | 7646 |
Mission duration | Elasped: 49 years, 6 months and 28 days |
Spacecraft properties | |
Manufacturer | CNES |
Launch mass | 47 kg (104 lb) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 6 February 1975, 16:35 (1975-02-06UTC16:35Z) UTC |
Rocket | Diamant BP4 |
Launch site | Guiana Space Centre |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Low Earth |
Eccentricity | 0.0206[1] |
Perigee altitude | 812 km (505 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 1,114 km (692 mi) |
Inclination | 49.83 degrees |
Period | 104 minutes |
Mission type | Scientific |
---|---|
Operator | CNES |
Harvard designation | 1993-061B |
COSPAR ID | 1993-061B |
SATCAT no. | 22824 |
Mission duration | Elasped: 30 years, 11 months and 8 days |
Spacecraft properties | |
Manufacturer | CNES |
Launch mass | 48 kg (106 lb) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 26 September 1993, 01:45:00 (1993-09-26UTC01:45Z) UTC |
Rocket | Ariane 4 |
Launch site | Guiana Space Centre |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Low Earth |
Eccentricity | 0.0006[2] |
Perigee altitude | 804 km (500 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 812 km (505 mi) |
Inclination | 98.68 degrees |
Period | 101 minutes |
Starlette (Satellite de taille adaptée avec réflecteurs laser pour les études de la terre,[1][3] or lit. 'Satellite of suitable size with laser reflectors for studies of the earth') and Stella are nearly identical French geodetic and geophysical satellites. Starlette was launched on 6 February 1975 and Stella on 26 September 1993. Starlette was the first passive laser satellite developed.
Background
Starlette's development dates back to at least 1972, when scientists at the Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES) were trying to determine a payload for the upcoming first flight of the new Diamant BP4 rocket.[4] After consulting with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, CNES scientists decided to create a small geodetic satellite optimized for tracking by laser ranging.[4] The project was approved within a few months after a feasibility study by the French atomic agency CEA determined the dense uranium core could be made nearly non-radioactive by using depleted uranium.[4][5]
The Groupe de recherches en géodésie spatiale (GRGS; Space Geodesy Research Group) first proposed Stella to provide coverage for areas missed by Starlette.[6]
Spacecraft design
Starlette and Stella are nearly identical, small spherical spacecraft measuring 24 centimetres (9.4 in) in diameter.[3] With masses of 47 kilograms (104 lb) and 48 kilograms (106 lb) respectively, the satellites are quite dense.[3] This high-density spherical design reduced the drag effect of aerobraking on the satellites as they exited Earth's atmosphere. Both satellites are covered in 60 laser retroreflectors.[1][3]
Mission and results
Starlette was launched on 6 February 1975 at 16:35 UTC[7] by a Diamant BP4 rocket from the B launch pad at the Guiana Space Centre in Korou, French Guiana.[1][3][8] It was the first flight of a Diamant BP4 launch vehicle.[1][4]
Stella was launched on 26 September 1993 at 01:45:00 UTC[7] by an Ariane 4 (Ariane 40 H-10) rocket from the ELA-2 launch pad at the Guiana Space Centre as part of a payload also containing the satellites SPOT-3, KITSAT-2, Itamsat, Eyesat-1, PoSAT-1, and Healthsat-2.[1][3][9] The payload was located in the top part of the Ariane rocket's third stage.[1]
In the 1980s, data gathered by Starlette was used to develop a model of global ocean tides.
Legacy and status
Starlette was the first passive laser satellite developed.[4] The first of two American geodetic satellites called LAGEOS followed not long after in 1976.[4]
Both satellites were in orbit as of 2023.[1] They are expected to remain in orbit up to 2000 years and to remain trackable for many decades or centuries.[4][6]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Kramer, Herbert J. (2002). Observation of the Earth and its Environment: Survey of Missions and Sensors (4th ed.). Berlin: Springer Verlag. ISBN 3-540-42388-5. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Stella TLE". n2yo.com. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
- ^ a b c d e f Krebs, Gunther. "Starlette / Stella". Gunther's Space Page. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g Barlier, François; Lefebvre, Michel (2001). "A new look at planet Earth: Satellite geodesy and geosciences". In Bleeker, Johan A. M.; Geiss, Johannes; Huber, Martin C. E. (eds.). The Century of Space Science (PDF). Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers. pp. 1623–1651. ISBN 978-94-010-0320-9. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ ILRS. "Starlette and Stella". Current Missions. International Association of Geodesy. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
- ^ a b "STELLA - The centimetre over centuries". Small Satellites Home Page (SSHP). 1995. Archived from the original on 28 April 2013.
- ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Starlette". Astronautix. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "STELLA". Astronautix. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- v
- t
- e
- Soyuz 17
- Kosmos 702
- Kosmos 703
- Landsat 2
- Kosmos 704
- Kosmos 705
- Kosmos 706
- Kosmos 707
- Molniya-2-12
- Starlette
- SMS-2
- Kosmos 708
- Kosmos 709
- Intelsat IV F-6
- Taiyo
- Kosmos 710
- Kosmos 711
- Kosmos 712
- Kosmos 713
- Kosmos 714
- Kosmos 715
- Kosmos 716
- Kosmos 717
- Kosmos 718
- OPS 2439
- Kosmos 719
- Kosmos 720
- Kosmos 721
- Nauka-5KSA No.4
- Kosmos 722
- Interkosmos 13
- Meteor-M No.31
- Kosmos 723
- Soyuz 7K-T No.39
- Kosmos 724
- Kosmos 725
- GEOS-3
- Kosmos 726
- RM-20
- Molniya-3 No.12
- Kosmos 727
- Kosmos 728
- OPS 4883
- Aryabhata
- Kosmos 729
- Kosmos 730
- Molniya-1-29
- Explorer 53
- Anik A3
- Polluz
- Castor
- OPS 9435
- OPS 9436
- Kosmos 731
- Nauka-9KS No.2
- Intelsat IV F-1
- OPS 6226
- Soyuz 18
- Kosmos 732
- Kosmos 733
- Kosmos 734
- Kosmos 735
- Kosmos 736
- Kosmos 737
- Kosmos 738
- Kosmos 739
- Kosmos 740
- Kosmos 741
- DS-U3-IK No.5
- Kosmos 742
- Molniya-1 No.24
- SRET-2
- Venera 9
- OPS 6381
- P-226-1
- Nimbus 6
- Kosmos 743
- Venera 10
- OPS 4966
- Kosmos 744
- OSO-8
- Kosmos 745
- Kosmos 746
- Kosmos 747
- Kosmos 748
- Kosmos 749
- Molniya-2-13
- Meteor-2 No.1
- Apollo–Soyuz
- DM-2
- Kosmos 750
- Kosmos 751
- Kosmos 752
- Ji Shu Shiyan Weixing 1
- Kosmos 753
- Cos-B
- Kosmos 754
- Kosmos 755
- Viking 1
- Kosmos 756
- Symphonie 2
- Kosmos 757
- Molniya-1-31
- Kosmos 758
- Molniya-2-14
- Kiku 1
- Viking 2
- Kosmos 759
- Kosmos 760
- Kosmos 761
- Kosmos 762
- Kosmos 763
- Kosmos 764
- Kosmos 765
- Kosmos 766
- Kosmos 767
- Kosmos 768
- Meteor-M No.28
- Kosmos 769
- Kosmos 770
- Kosmos 771
- Intelsat IVA F-1
- Aura
- Kosmos 772
- Kosmos 773
- Kosmos 774
- Explorer 54
- Kosmos 775
- OPS 5499
- Triad 2
- E-8-5M No.412
- GOES 1
- Kosmos 776
- Kosmos 777
- Kosmos 778
- Kosmos 779
- Molniya-3 No.13
- Soyuz 20
- Explorer 55
- Kosmos 780
- Kosmos 781
- Kosmos 782
- Fanhui Shi Weixing 2
- Kosmos 783
- Kosmos 784
- OPS 4428
- OPS 5547
- DAD-A
- DAD-B
- Interkosmos 14
- Kosmos 785
- Satcom 1
- OPS 3165
- Ji Shu Shiyan Weixing 2
- Kosmos 786
- Molniya-2-15
- Unnamed
- Prognoz 4
- Gran' No.11L
- Meteor No.38
- Molniya-3 No.15