ABRIXAS

ABRIXAS

ABRIXAS in orbit.
Mission type	X-ray astronomy
Operator	DLR
COSPAR ID	1999-022A
SATCAT №	25721
Spacecraft properties
Launch mass	550.0 kilograms (1,212.5 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	28 April 1999, 20:30 UTC
Rocket	Kosmos-3M
Launch site	Kapustin Yar 107
End of mission
Last contact	1 May 1999
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Sun-synchronous
Semi-major axis	6,869.9 kilometers (4,268.8 mi)
Eccentricity	0.00352
Perigee	549 km (341 mi)
Apogee	598 km (372 mi)
Inclination	48.0 degrees
Period	96.00 minutes

A Broadband Imaging X-ray All-sky Survey, or ABRIXAS was a space-based German X-ray telescope. It was launched on 28 April 1999 in a Cosmos launch vehicle from Kapustin Yar, Russia, into Earth orbit. The orbit had a periapsis of 549.0 kilometres (341.1 mi), an apoapsis of 598.0 kilometres (371.6 mi), an inclination of 48.0° and an eccentricity of 0.00352, giving it a period of 96 minutes.^[1][2]

The telescope's battery was accidentally overcharged and destroyed three days after the mission started. When attempts to communicate with the satellite when its solar panels were illuminated by sunlight failed, the $20 million project was abandoned.^[3]

References

1. "NASA - NSSDC - Spacecraft - Details (ABRIXAS)". NASA. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
2. "NASA - NSSD - Spacecraft - Trajectory Details (ABRIXAS)". NASA. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
3. "ABRIXAS". Astronautix.com. Retrieved 2008-02-28.