SPOT 3 (22823)

COSPAR: 1993-061A | Alt Name: SPOT 3

Image
SPOT 3 Satellite Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details

Launch Date

September 26, 1993

Launch Site

FRGUI

Launch Pad

ELA2

Launch Vehicle

Ariane 40

Orbital Elements

NORAD ID

22823

International Designator

1993-061A

Epoch

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 01:55:18 GMT

Apogee

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Perigee

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Inclination

98.86°

Right Ascension

249.12°

Eccentricity

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Argument of Perigee

190.55°

Period

101.40 min

Mean Motion

14.20 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

SPOT 3

Alternative Name

SPOT 3

Type

Payload

Status

Non-operational

Owner

CNES

Country

France

Constellation

N/A

Related Satellites

Major Events

N/A

Latest TLEs
1 22823U 93061A   26185.08007792  .00000116  00000-0  75302-4 0  9990
2 22823  98.8562 249.1231 0016522 190.5544 169.5288 14.20098041696978

Source: Celestrak

Summary
SPOT 3 is an Earth observation satellite, officially designated as 1993-061A, with a NORAD catalog ID of 22823. Launched on September 26, 1993, from the ELA2 pad at the Guiana Space Centre using an Ariane 40 launch vehicle, SPOT 3 was manufactured by MMST and owned by CNES (Centre National d'Études Spatiales). The satellite is configured as a SPOT Mk.1 with dimensions of 4.5 meters in length, 2 meters in diameter, and spans 8.2 meters when deployed. It has a dry mass of 1750 kg and a launch mass of 1900 kg. Equipped with two High Resolution Visible (HRV) imagers for Earth observation, SPOT 3 is powered by deployable solar arrays and batteries. The satellite's shape consists of a box section plus a pan configuration, with a radar cross-section of 6.3479 m². Its mission was designed to last for three years, focusing on Earth observation tasks through its onboard imaging systems.
Physical Characteristics

Length

4.5

Diameter

2

Span

8.2

Dry Mass

1750

Launch Mass

1900

Shape

Box + Pan

Radar Cross Section

6.3479

Visual Magnitude

Unknown

Color

Unknown

Material Composition

Unknown

Technical Details

Payload

SPOT 3

Purpose

Earth observation

Mission

Earth observation

Manufacturer

MMST

Life Expectancy

3 years (design)

Bus

SPOT

Configuration

SPOT Mk.1

Motor

SPOT AOCS

Equipment

2 HRV imager

Power System

Deployable solar array, batteries

ADCS

Unknown

Transmitter Frequency

Unknown

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