Helios 2A

Launch data: Designation  28492 / 04049A Launch date  18 Dec 2004 - 16:26 UT Launch site  Ko, ELA-3 Launch vehicle  Ariane-5G+ Mission: Military: Reconnaissance Sun-Synchronous LEO Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  681 x 683 km Eccentricity  1,42E-04 Inclination  98.1° Period  98 min

Spacecraft data:

Préparation d′un satellite Helios 2 dans les locaux d′Airbus Defence and Space - Photo Airbus Defence and Space

Description:

• The Helios program is Europe′s military optical reconnaissance system consisting of both a space and a ground segment, which commenced service in 1995, jointly funded by the French, Italian and Spanish governments.
• The Helios I optical observation satellites, launched in July 1995 and December 1999 respectively, can acquire high resolution images of any point on the globe, with daily revisit capability.
• Scheduled to enter service in 2004, Helios II comprises two four-ton satellites, Helios IIA and IIB, which will deliver improved performance relative to their Helios I predecessors (in terms of resolution capability, number of images they can take, and night sight), and an enhanced user ground segment. The ground resolution is about 50 cm.
• This new system will be able to process data from both the Helios I and the Helios II satellites, while remaining open to future space-based intelligence systems. The French Ministry of Defence procurement agency DGA runs the program, retains direct control over the management of the ground segment, and delegates the space segment responsibility to the French space agency CNES.

Mission details:

• Optical reconnaissance; independent military intelligence capability for the EU (France has financed 90% of the B series).

Astrophilately covers:

Launch cancel Kourou.

Headquarter cancel Paris.