CHAMP - CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload

CHAMP provides important contributions for geo-scientific research and information about the physics of the atmosphere. With its extremely precise multifunctional and complementary payload elements - including magnetometer, accelerometer, star sensor, GPS receiver, laser retro reflector and ion drift meter - CHAMP measures for the first time and with high accuracy the global gravity and magnetic field over a lifetime of more than five years. After the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) was successfully completed in a joint effort between engineers from the industry and scientists from the GeoForschungszentrum Potsdam, GSOC is controlling the CHAMP satellite during its scientific routine phase using the ground station at Weilheim.

Launch Date

15 July 2000

Orbit Altitude

460 km

Orbital Position

87.3°

Mass

522 kg

Length

8 m (inkl. Boom)

Launch Site

Plesetsk, Russia

Launcher

COSMOS

Mission Lifetime

7 years

Control Center

DLR / GSOC

Ground Stations

Weilheim, Neustrelitz

Re-Entry

19 Sep 2010 (incinerated)