 Artist's impression of CHAMP | |
| Mission type | Technology |
|---|---|
| Operator | DLR |
| COSPAR ID | 2000-039B |
| SATCATno. | 26405 |
| Mission duration | Achieved: 10 years Planned: 5 years |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | Flexbus[1] |
| Manufacturer | Astrium |
| Launch mass | 500 kilograms (1,100 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 15 July 2000, 12:00:00 (2000-07-15UTC12Z) UTC |
| Rocket | Kosmos-3M |
| Launch site | PlesetskSite 132/1 |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 19 September 2010 (2010-09-20) |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Semi-major axis | 6,823.287 kilometres (4,239.794 mi) |
| Eccentricity | 0.0007115 |
| Inclination | 87.18 degrees |
| Period | 93.55 minutes |
| RAAN | 124.21 degrees |
| Argument of perigee | 277.62 degrees |
| Epoch | 15 July 2000 12:00:00 UTC[2] |
Challenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) was a Germansatellite launched July 15, 2000 fromPlesetsk, Russia and was used foratmospheric andionospheric research, as well as othergeoscientific applications, such asGPS radio occultation,gravity field determination, and studying the Earth's magnetic field.[3][4]
CHAMP was managed byGeoForschungsZentrum (GFZ)Potsdam.[5]
The spacecraft is the first application of Astrium's "Flexbus" platform;GRACE was the second.[6] A heavily modified version flew as theGOCE mission.[7]
An onboard BlackJackGlobal Positioning System (GPS) Flight Receiver, provided byJPL, enables the use ofsatellite to satellite tracking for vehicle positioning. To remove the effect of external, non-gravitational forces (e.g.,atmospheric drag,solar radiation pressure) the satellite features an internal 3-axis STARaccelerometer. Independent verification of orbital position is enabled by a passiveLaser Retro Reflector (LRR), which also enables calibration of the principal positioning vialaser ranging. Spacecraft attitude is measured using Advanced Stellar Compass (ASC)star tracker supplied byTechnical University of Denmark andattitude control is provided by threemagnetorquers andcold gas thrusters.[4]
Mounted on the boom, the satellite has an Magnetometer Instrument Assembly System (MIAS) for measurement of the Earth's magnetic field. The vehicle can measure the Earth's electric field parallel to the magnetic field with the Digital Ion Drift Meter (DIDM).[4]
CHAMP completed its mission and re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on 19 September 2010 after 10 years (design life: five years).[8]
The mission was judged as being successful by the involved scientists,[9] in particular as the original 5 year design life was significantly extended.[10]
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