United States Air ForceDelta II 7420-10CSpace Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Cloudsat
Launched
April 28, 2006
Image: NASA
Summary
Cloudsat launched on an United States Air Force Delta II 7420-10C from Space Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on April 28, 2006. It was United States Air Force's 1,071st launch, 1st this year and humanity's 4,768th orbital launch attempt. It was the 8th Delta II 7420-10C flight and the 1st this year. The payload was bound for Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). Cloudsat, one of 5 catalogued objects, reached a 181 × 692 km orbit inclined 98.1°. 5 objects from this launch are catalogued, 2 of them payloads.
- Watch
- No webcast on record.
- Vehicle
- Delta II 7420-10C · United States Air Force
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Earth Science · Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)
- Milestone
- 8th Delta II 7420-10C flight · 1st this yearUnited States Air Force's 1,071st launch1st this yearhumanity's 4,768th orbital launch attempt18th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
Cloudsat · NORAD 29107 · 2006-016 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 5 objects
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
- Object ID
- 2006-016A
- Epoch
- 2006-04-28 10:13:40 UTC
- Mean motion
- 15.45784828 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.037511
- Inclination
- 98.094°
- Ascending node
- 61.6066°
- Arg. of perigee
- 178.123°
- Mean anomaly
- 54.639°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 0
- B*
- 0
Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: MEO. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.
Catalogued objects
5 catalogued: 2 payloads, 1 rocket stage, 1 debris, 1 component; 3 still in orbit
- Cloudsat · NORAD 29107 · in orbit
- Calipso · NORAD 29108 · in orbit
Delta 314 · re-entered July 6, 2006
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
CloudSat is a satellite which uses millimeter-wavelength radar to measure the altitude and properties of clouds. Advanced cloud-profiling radar gathers information on the vertical structure of highly dynamic cloud systems. This new information provides the first global measurements of cloud properties that will help scientists compile a database of cloud measurements to improve how clouds are represented in global climate and numerical weather prediction models.
Pad
Space Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
74th launch from Space Launch Complex 2W, 1st this year · 625th from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
99 launches from this pad · 919 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
342 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did Cloudsat launch?
Cloudsat launched on April 28, 2006. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch Cloudsat?
No webcast is on record for this launch.
What rocket launched Cloudsat?
Delta II 7420-10C, flown by United States Air Force. Delta II 7420-10C spec sheet
Where did Cloudsat launch from?
Space Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.
What orbit did Cloudsat reach?
Cloudsat, one of 5 catalogued objects, reached a 181 × 692 km orbit inclined 98.1°.
How many satellites did Cloudsat launch?
2 payloads from this launch are catalogued, 2 of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).