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GFO (25157)
COSPAR: 1998-007A | Alt Name: GFO
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
February 10, 1998
Launch Site
AFWTR
Launch Pad
576E
Launch Vehicle
Taurus 2210
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
25157
International Designator
1998-007A
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 15:33:19 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
108.00°
Right Ascension
205.14°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
279.73°
Period
90.35 min
Mean Motion
15.94 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
Calculating...
Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
GFO
Alternative Name
GFO
Type
Payload
Status
Non-operational
Owner
USN
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 25157U 98007A 26184.64814494 .00273796 37877-4 73883-3 0 9997
2 25157 107.9984 205.1381 0020808 279.7283 80.1589 15.93874016529120
Source: Celestrak
Summary
The GFO satellite, also known by its NORAD catalog ID 25157 and OBJECT_ID 1998-007A, is a BCP-600 (formerly Techstar) configuration built by BALL for the US Navy (USN). Launched on February 10, 1998, from Vandenberg AFB's Launch Complex 576E using a Taurus 2210 launch vehicle, GFO has dimensions of 2.7 meters in length and diameter with a span of 2.7 meters. It weighs 365 kilograms at launch and 300 kilograms dry, powered by solar arrays and batteries. The satellite's mission is altimetry, equipped with a radio altimeter and microwave radiometer for measurements. GFO has exceeded its planned lifetime of five years, reaching ten years in orbit. Its shape includes a cylinder with a dish and panel configuration, with a Radar Cross Section (RCS) of 1.651 square meters.
Physical Characteristics
Length
2.7
Diameter
1
Span
2.7
Dry Mass
300
Launch Mass
365
Shape
Cyl + Dish + Pan
Radar Cross Section
1.651
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
GFO
Purpose
Altimetry
Mission
Altimetry
Manufacturer
BALL
Life Expectancy
5 years planned, 10 years reached
Bus
BCP-2000/Tchstar
Configuration
BCP-600 (formerly called Techstar)
Motor
?
Equipment
Radio altimeter, microwave radiometer
Power System
Solar array, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Map
Next Pass
Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)
Start Azimuth
Max Elevation
Stop Azimuth
Time Until
Pass Duration
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