Stella

France

Spacecraft nº:

France spacecraft nº: 37

Launch data

Designation22824 / 93061B
Launch date26 Sep 1993
Launch site Ko, ELA-2
Launch vehicle  Ariane-40 (V59)
MissionScientific: geodesy
Earth orbit:
Perigee/Apogee 793/803 km
Inclination 98.7°
Period 100.8 min

Specifications

Prime contractorCNES
Platform 
OperatorCNES, France
Mass at launch 48 kg
Mass in orbit  
Diameter 24 cm (sphere)
Stabilization  
DC power  
Design lifetime  

Its a sphere of 24 cm diameter with 20 sides and 60 laser reflectors. As Starlette or Lageos 2 Stella is designed to be tracked by laser (1 cm accuracy) by ground stations all around the world (in France: le Cergue in Grasse). It is made of impoverish uranium for the maximum stability. Will enable to make a map of the globe.
Ref.: #7(JR655), #15 - update: 27.03.12 Home