GFZ 1

Germany

Spacecraft n°:

Germany spacecraft n°: 26

Launch data:

Designation:	23558 / 86017JE
Launch date	19 Feb 1986 19 Apr 1995 at 19:12 UT
Launch site	B, LC1
Launch vehicle	Soyuz-U
Operator	GeoForschungsZentrum Postdam, Germany
Mission	Scientific: geodesy
Perigee/Apogee	383/394 km
Inclination	51.6°
Period	92.3 min

A fake replica was launched on 17 Apr 1995 (catnr: 23557).

25 observatories all over the world will execute measurements by laserreflections. Stations are among others: London, Grasse (France), Postdam, Easterisland, Graz (Austria) and even one in Kirgizie. The stations can 'catch' GFZ 1 with a beamwidth of 200 meters.

End of life

Out of service	23 Jun 1999
Cause	reentered
Decay	23 Jun 1999

Specifications

Prime contractor	Kayser-Threde
Platform
Mass at launch	20 kg
Diameter	21 cm
Width
Height
Stabilization
DC power
Design lifetime

Sphere covered with laser retroreflectors

Ref: #15 - update: 28.08.09