Equator-S

The Equator-S satellite was a spacecraft constructed by the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics for the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics Science Initiative. It was operational between 2 December 1997 and 1 May 1998.[1]

Computer generated image of the Equator-S satellite (NASA).

Equator-S
The Equator-S satellite was operational between 2 December 1997 and 1 May 1998[1]
Mission typeHeliophysics
OperatorISTP
COSPAR ID1997-075B
SATCAT no.25068
Websitehttps://www2011.mpe.mpg.de/EQS/eq-s-home.html
Mission duration150 days [1]
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerMax Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics[1]
Launch mass230 kg (510 lb) [2]
Start of mission
Launch date2 December 1997
 

Description

Equator-S was a low-cost mission, launched with the intention to study the Earth's magnetosphere around the equator at heights lower than 67,000 km.[1] It was located in a near-equatorial orbit, which gave Equator-S the ability to make unique observations about the interaction between the magnetosphere and interplanetary space.[3] Equator-S had a very high spin rate and was launched on an Ariane 4 rocket on 2 December 1997.[1]

The mission ended earlier than expected, having initially been intended to have a lifetime of two years. The mission was terminated on 1 May 1998 after the failure of the onboard processor system.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Max Planck Institute- Equator S Summary". Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  2. "Spacecraft Specs". MP:EquatorS Archive. Max Planck Institute. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  3. "NASA: Equator-S". NASA. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
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