GEOTAIL (22049)

COSPAR: 1992-044A | Alt Name: Geotail

Image

Additional Sources

Launch Details

Launch Date

July 24, 1992

Launch Site

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

Launch Pad

LC17A

Launch Vehicle

Delta 6925

Orbital Elements

NORAD ID

22049

International Designator

1992-044A

Epoch

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 19:56:16 GMT

Apogee

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Perigee

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Inclination

45.40°

Right Ascension

342.88°

Eccentricity

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Argument of Perigee

282.67°

Period

7475.62 min

Mean Motion

0.19 rev/day

Latitude

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Longitude

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Altitude

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Velocity

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Polar Plot

3D Visualization

Basic Satellite Info

Name

GEOTAIL

Alternative Name

Geotail

Type

Payload

Status

Non-operational

Owner

ISASS

Country

Japan

Constellation

N/A

Related Satellites

Major Events

N/A

Latest TLEs

1 22049U 92044A   26188.83074729 -.00001657  00000-0  00000+0 0  9990

2 22049  45.4042 342.8785 5771291 282.6685   0.2904  0.19262626 15795

Source: Celestrak

Summary

The GEOTAIL satellite, also known as Geotail, was launched on July 24, 1992, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 17A using a Delta 6925 launch vehicle. The spacecraft has dimensions of 1.6 meters in length and 2.2 meters in diameter with an extended span of 100 meters. It was manufactured by NEC for the ISASS (Institute of Space and Astronautical Science) to study the magnetosphere, equipped with instruments such as PWI, EPIC, EFD, MGF, LEP, CPI, and HEP. The satellite has a dry mass of 640 kg and weighed 1009 kg at launch. It is powered by solar cells and batteries. GEOTAIL was designed for a lifetime of 3.5 years but achieved an operational lifespan of over 30 years.

Physical Characteristics

Length

1.6

Diameter

2.2

Span

100

Dry Mass

640

Launch Mass

1009

Shape

Cyl + Ant

Radar Cross Section

3.5

Visual Magnitude

Unknown

Color

Unknown

Material Composition

Unknown

Technical Details

Payload

Geotail

Purpose

Magnetosphere

Mission

Magnetosphere

Manufacturer

NEC

Life Expectancy

3.5 years (design); 30 years (achieved)

Bus

Geotail

Configuration

Motor

Equipment

PWI, EPIC, EFD, MGF, LEP, CPI, HEP

Power System

Solar cells, batteries

ADCS

Unknown

Transmitter Frequency

Unknown

Map

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Latitude

Longitude

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