Eurockot Launch ServicesRokot/Briz-KM133/3 (133L), Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

SMOS

Launched

November 2, 2009

Launch Successful

Image: ESA/Stephane Corvaja

Summary

SMOS launched on an Eurockot Launch Services Rokot/Briz-KM from 133/3 (133L), Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation on November 2, 2009. It was Eurockot Launch Services's 9th launch, 2nd this year and humanity's 5,016th orbital launch attempt. It was the 12th Rokot/Briz-KM flight and the 3rd this year. The payload was bound for Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO). SMOS, one of 4 catalogued objects, reached a 766 × 768 km orbit inclined 98.5°. 4 objects from this launch are catalogued, 2 of them payloads.

Watch: No webcast on record.
Vehicle: Rokot/Briz-KM · Eurockot Launch Services
Booster: No booster details on record.
Mission: Earth Science · Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO)
Milestone: 12th Rokot/Briz-KM flight · 3rd this yearEurockot Launch Services's 9th launch2nd this yearhumanity's 5,016th orbital launch attempt62nd orbital launch attempt this year

Flight preview

Orbit: as tracked

98.5°Inclination

766 × 768 kmPerigee × apogeefrom mean elements

100.0 minPeriodfrom mean elements

132.2°Ascending node

6191 d agoElement epoch2009-11-02 19:52 UTC · stale

SMOS · NORAD 36036 · 2009-059 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 4 objects

Show the numbers

Object: OBJECT A
Object ID: 2009-059A
Epoch: 2009-11-02 19:52:33 UTC
Mean motion: 14.39600065 rev/day
Eccentricity: 0.0001605
Inclination: 98.4519°
Ascending node: 132.2278°
Arg. of perigee: 323.0569°
Mean anomaly: 37.0285°
Element set: 999
Rev at epoch: 11
B*: 0

Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: SSO.

Catalogued objects

4 catalogued: 2 payloads, 1 rocket stage, 1 component; 4 still in orbit

SMOS · NORAD 36036 · in orbit
PROBA-2 · NORAD 36037 · in orbit

Briz-KM No. 72513 · in orbit

Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org

About this launch

SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) is a earth observation satellite operated by ESA. It is intented to provide new insights into Earth's water cycle and climate.

News

1 story

ESA · Jul 30SMOS salinity could offer early indicator of El NiñoAs the Pacific Ocean moves into an El Niño phase, scientists are monitoring changes in sea-surface temperature, but also sea-surface salinity – which is another key indicator of this phenomenon.

Pad

133/3 (133L), Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

140th launch from 133/3 (133L), 3rd this year · 1,569th from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

159 launches from this pad · 1,688 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

119 days after the previous launch from this pad

All launches from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation Open in maps

Questions

When did SMOS launch?

SMOS launched on November 2, 2009. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.

Where can I watch SMOS?

No webcast is on record for this launch.

What rocket launched SMOS?

Rokot/Briz-KM, flown by Eurockot Launch Services. Rokot/Briz-KM spec sheet

Where did SMOS launch from?

133/3 (133L), Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation.

What orbit did SMOS reach?

SMOS, one of 4 catalogued objects, reached a 766 × 768 km orbit inclined 98.5°.

How many satellites did SMOS launch?

2 payloads from this launch are catalogued, 2 of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).