Argos

USA

Advanced Research and Observation satellite, also called P91-1

Launch data:

Designation	25634 / 99008A
Launch date	23 Feb 1999
Launch site	Va, SLC-2W
Launch vehicle	Delta-7920-10 (#267)
Mission	Scientific
Earth orbit:
Perigee/Apogee	831/848 km
Inclination	98.7°
Period	102 min

Will collect valuable data on the Earth's global environment performing technology demonstrations for military space programs.

Specifications:

Prime contractor	Boeing-SB
Platform	-
Mass at launch	2700 kg
Mass in orbit
Dimension
Solar array
Stabilization
DC power
Design lifetime	3 years

9 experiments on-board. The most important one is HTSCE II (High Temperature Super Conducting Experiment II) which will test supraconductors. Another interesting experiment is the Electric propulsion Space Experiment (ESEX); it was tested during 141 seconds with a 27 kW electric arc (150 minutes of tests are planned). The experiment must demonstrate no interference with the other satellite payloads.

Carries a $2 million space dust instrument of the University of Chicago (Spadus).

Transmissions: 2212.5 & 2262.5 MHz

Ref.: #15 - update: 25/03/01

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