Glory (satellite)
Failed NASA satellite mission / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Glory satellite was a planned NASA satellite mission that would have collected data on the chemical, micro-physical and optical properties—and the spatial and temporal distributions—of sulfate and other aerosols, and would have collected solar irradiance data for the long-term climate record. The science focus areas served by Glory included: atmospheric composition; carbon cycle, ecosystems, and biogeochemistry; climate variability and change; and water and energy cycles.[1] The US$424 million satellite was lost on 4 March 2011, when its Taurus XL carrier rocket malfunctioned.[2] A subsequent investigation revealed that the fairing system failed to open fully, causing the satellite to reenter the atmosphere at which point it likely broke up and burned.[3] NASA investigators later determined the cause for the launch failure to be faulty materials provided by aluminum manufacturer Sapa Profiles.[4]
Mission type | Climate research |
---|---|
Operator | NASA / GSFC |
Website | www |
Mission duration | Failed to orbit 3 years (planned) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Launch mass | 545 kilograms (1,202 lb) |
Power | 400 watts |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 4 March 2011, 10:09:43 (2011-03-04UTC10:09:43Z) UTC |
Rocket | Taurus XL 3110 (T9) |
Launch site | Vandenberg, LC-576E |
Contractor | Orbital Sciences |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Low Earth |
Epoch | Planned |