SAC-D

SAC-D
Artist's impression of SAC-D
Mission typeTechnology demonstration
Earth observation
OperatorCONAE
COSPAR ID2011-024A
SATCAT no.37673
Websiteconae.gov.ar
Mission durationPlanned: 5 years
Final: 3 years, 11 months, 28 days
Spacecraft properties
BusSmall Satellite Standard Platform
ManufacturerINVAP
Launch mass1,350 kg (2,977 lb)
Dimensions2.7 × 5.0 m (8.9 × 16.4 ft)
Power1,362 watts
Start of mission
Launch date10 June 2011, 14:20:13 (2011-06-10UTC14:20:13) UTC
RocketDelta II 7320-10C
Launch siteVandenberg SLC-2W
ContractorUnited Launch Alliance
End of mission
DisposalSpacecraft failure
Last contact8 June 2015 (2015-06-09)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Semi-major axis7,031.6 km (4,369.2 mi)
Eccentricity0.000181
Perigee altitude652.2 km (405.3 mi)
Apogee altitude654.7 km (406.8 mi)
Inclination98.0 degrees
Period97.8 minutes
Epoch17 December 2015, 15:47:23 UTC

SAC-D (Spanish: Satélite de Aplicaciones Científicas-D, meaning Satellite for Scientific Applications-D), also known as Aquarius after its primary instrument, is an Argentine Earth science satellite built by INVAP and operated by CONAE. SAC-D was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on 10 June 2011, with a planned mission life of five years. Due to a power system failure, the mission was ended on 8 June 2015.