Astérix (satellite)
Astérix or A-1 (initially conceptualized as FR.2 or FR-2) is the first French satellite. It was launched on 26 November 1965 by a Diamant A rocket from the CIEES launch site at Hammaguir, Algeria. With Astérix, France became the sixth country to have an artificial satellite and the third country to launch a satellite on its own rocket. Its main purpose was to test the Diamant launcher, though it was also designed to study the ionosphere. Astérix continues to orbit Earth as of 2023 and is expected to remain in orbit for centuries.
Prototype of Astérix at the Musée de l'air et de l'espace | |
| Mission type | Technology |
|---|---|
| Operator | CNES, CNET |
| Harvard designation | 1965-096A |
| COSPAR ID | 1965-096A |
| SATCAT no. | 1778 |
| Mission duration | 111 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | CNES |
| Launch mass | 42.0 kilograms (92.6 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 26 November 1965, 09:52 UTC |
| Rocket | Diamant A |
| Launch site | Hammaguir Brigitte/A |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Decommissioned |
| Last contact | 28 November 1965 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Semi-major axis | 7,468.0 kilometres (4,640.4 mi) |
| Eccentricity | 0.08023 |
| Perigee altitude | 527 kilometres (327 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 1,697 kilometres (1,054 mi) |
| Inclination | 34.30 degrees |
| Period | 107.5 minutes |
| Epoch | 26 November 1965 |
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