// space science · 1979

MagSat

Joint NASA and USGS satellite for studying Earth's magnetic field. MagSat was launched on October 30, 1979 aboard a Scout G-1 from Vandenberg. Latest status in GCAT: reentered (orbital decay) (Jun 11, 1980).

COSPAR 1979-094ANORAD 11604United States

Identity

Name in GCAT: Magsat
Common name: MagSat
Payload designation: AEM-C
International designator: 1979-094A
NORAD catalog number: 11604
GCAT identifier: S11604
UN registration: ST/SG/SER.E/030

Mission

Mission type: Space science
Use: Civil government
Program: Explorer AEM
Owner: GSFC
Country: United States
Builder: JHU-Applied Physics Lab
Platform (bus): SAS

Launch

Date: October 30, 1979 · 14:16 UTC
Launch record: 1979-094Success
Rocket: Scout G-1
Spaceport: Vandenberg · pad SLC5

Orbit and fate

Orbit class (GCAT): LLEO/S
Perigee: 347 km
Apogee: 541 km
Inclination: 96.79°
Status: Reentered (orbital decay)
Status date: June 11, 1980
Last known active: Jun 11, 1980
End of operations: Jun 11, 1980

Size

Mass: 181 kg
Dry mass: 181 kg
Length: 1.6 m
Diameter: 0.80 m
Span: 7.6 m

Source: GCAT payload, deep-space and lander catalogs, Jonathan C. McDowell (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata Q54208 (CC0).