Orbview 2

USA

Also called Seastar

Launch data:

Designation	24883 / 97037A
Launch date	01 Aug 1997
Launch site	Va, L-1011, RW30/12
Launch vehicle	Pegasus-XL
Mission	Remote sensing
Sun-synchronous Earth orbit:
Perigee / Apogee	787 x 792 km
Eccentricity
Inclination	98.5 deg
Period	100.5 min

Carries NASA's SeaWiFS instrument as the sensor payload, also designated "Oceans Color Data Set." The objective for global ocean coverage is desired to estimate ocean color, and to derive from these measurements, various biological indicators and other useful scientific products.

The SeaWiFS Team has developed, and will operate, a data system that will process, calibrate, validate, archive, and distribute SeaWiFS data for research. All other aspects of the mission -- satellite construction, launch, command and control and tracking -- are the responsibility of OSC. NASA has contracted with OSC to provide, for five years, the raw satellite data which will be used for research purposes. This contract is worth $43.5 million. OSC will own the data rights for operational and commercial purposes.

Specifications

Prime contractor	OSC
Platform	Microstar
Mass at launch	309 kg
Mass in orbit
Dimension
Solar array
Stabilization
DC power
Design lifetime	10 years

Telemetry: 1702.5 MHz (665.4 kbps)
Command: 2092.59 MHz (19.2 kbps)
Data: 2272.5 MHz (2000 kbps)

End of live:

Out of service:	Dec 2012
Cause:

Description:

Orbview 2 (SeaStar) was a spacecraft, developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation, to deliver daily, worldwide, high precision, moderate resolution, multispectral visible observations of ocean radiance for research in biogeochemical processes, climate change, and oceanography. Local high resolution (1 km) data (LAC) were delivered by direct broadcast at L-Band to regional scientific centers nationwide. Reduced resolution (4 km) data (GAC and selected LAC) were directly broadcast at S-band to smaller research centers and ships at sea. All reduced resolution data and selected full resolution data were recorded on board and transmitted to GSFC via daily dump at S-Band or via the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS). A minimum three year mission life was expected.

External links:

Satellite tracking:
Real time satellite tracking

SeaWiFS

Wavebands	412 nm (20 nm bandwidth) 443 nm (20 nm bandwidth) 490 nm (20 nm bandwidth) 510 nm (20 nm bandwidth) 555 nm (20 nm bandwidth) 670 nm (20 nm bandwidth) 765 nm (40 nm bandwidth) 865 nm (40 nm bandwidth)
Swath width
Resolution

Has a rotating scanning telescope to achieve a scan angle > 58.3°.

The SeaWiFS instrument is built by Hughes Electronics

Ref.: #228 - update: 19.02.14

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