HELIOS 1B (25977)

COSPAR: 1999-064A | Alt Name: Helios 1B

Image
HELIOS 1B Satellite Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details

Launch Date

December 3, 1999

Launch Site

FRGUI

Launch Pad

ELA2

Launch Vehicle

Ariane 40

Orbital Elements

NORAD ID

25977

International Designator

1999-064A

Epoch

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 04:35:34 GMT

Apogee

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Perigee

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Inclination

98.16°

Right Ascension

90.82°

Eccentricity

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Argument of Perigee

68.22°

Period

96.77 min

Mean Motion

14.88 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

HELIOS 1B

Alternative Name

Helios 1B

Type

Payload

Status

Non-operational

Owner

CNES/DGA

Country

France

Constellation

N/A

Related Satellites

Major Events

N/A

Latest TLEs
1 25977U 99064A   26185.19136691  .00001648  00000-0  18568-3 0  9996
2 25977  98.1597  90.8223 0002366  68.2201 291.9266 14.88053365702581

Source: Celestrak

Summary
The HELIOS 1B satellite, also known as Spot 4, is an electro-optical reconnaissance satellite configured as a SPOT Mk.2 and operated by CNES/DGA. Launched on December 3, 1999, from ELA2 at the Guiana Space Center using an Ariane 40 launch vehicle, this French-owned spacecraft measures 3.5 meters in length with a diameter of 2 meters and a span of 4 meters. It has a dry mass of 2500 kg and was launched with a total mass of 2544 kg. HELIOS 1B is equipped with deployable solar arrays and batteries for power, and it features a Spot AOCS motor system for orientation control. The satellite's primary purpose is electro-optical reconnaissance, and its shape is described as a box with a panoramic component. With an expected lifetime of five years, HELIOS 1B was manufactured by MMST and has an RCS (radar cross-section) value of 6.7564 square meters.
Physical Characteristics

Length

3.5

Diameter

2

Span

4

Dry Mass

2500

Launch Mass

2544

Shape

Box + Pan

Radar Cross Section

6.7564

Visual Magnitude

Unknown

Color

Unknown

Material Composition

Unknown

Technical Details

Payload

Helios 1B

Purpose

Reconnaissance, electro-optical

Mission

Reconnaissance, electro-optical

Manufacturer

MMST

Life Expectancy

5 years

Bus

Spot 4

Configuration

SPOT Mk.2

Motor

Spot AOCS

Equipment

?

Power System

Deployable solar array, batteries

ADCS

Unknown

Transmitter Frequency

Unknown

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