Near Field Infrared Experiment
| NFIRE | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: | Technology testing satellite |
| Country: |
 United States
|
| Operator: | Missile Defense Agency |
| COSPAR-ID : | 2007-014A |
| Mission dates | |
| Dimensions: | 494 kg |
| Begin: | April 24, 2007, 06:48 UTC |
| Starting place: | Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad 0B |
| Launcher: | Minotaur-1 |
| Status: | burned up on November 4, 2015 |
| Orbit data | |
| Rotation time : | 92.8 min |
| Orbit inclination : | 48.2 ° |
| Apogee height : | 421 km |
| Perigee height : | 412 km |
Near Field Infrared Experiment ( NFIRE ) was a military satellite that the USA launched on April 24, 2007 with a Minotaur-1 from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport into an orbit at 495 km altitude with 49 ° inclination.
The satellite, built by General Dynamics , had a launch mass of 494 kg and was designed for a lifespan of two years. Its payload consisted of two sensors for infrared and visible light for the detection of rocket launches on Earth and the subsequent orbit tracking .
NFIRE also carried an experimental laser communication terminal from Tesat-Spacecom for data communication. The plan to equip it with a projectile ("kill vehicle") was abandoned.
Over the years, the orbit height fell more and more, NFIRE entered the earth's atmosphere on November 4, 2015 and burned up.
Individual evidence
- ↑ orbit data according to NFIRE. n2yo, October 4, 2012, accessed October 4, 2012 .
- ^ Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies: NFIRE. (No longer available online.) Formerly in the original ; accessed on November 9, 2015 . ( Page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
