25789 - QUICKSCAT

QUIKSCAT (QUIcKSCATterometer) is an American oceanographic satellite that was launched by a Titan 2 rocket from Vandenberg AFB at 02:15 UT on 1999 June 20. It will measure ocean winds and directions by monitoring wind-induced ripples by means of a microwave scatterometer. The scanning width is 1,800 km. The instrument is a followup to the scatterometer that was onboard the Japanese ADEOS spacecraft (1996-046A) that operated until 1997 June 30. It will also be onboard ADEOS 2, to be launched in 2000. Initial orbital parameters of the sun-synchronous spacecraft were period 95.6 min, apogee 815 km, perigee 281 km, and inclination 98.7 deg.

Alternate Names

Quick Scatterometer

Facts in Brief

Launch Date: 1999-06-20
Launch Vehicle: Titan II
Launch Site: Vandenberg AFB, United States