26063 - OPAL

OPAL (Orbiting Picosatellite Automated Launcher) is an American microsatellite for engineering tests of components, and was released from JAWSAT. In turn, it was also to deploy six student-engineered picosatellites as a feasibility test. Initial parameters of the circular orbit were period 100.4 min, altitude 773 km, and inclination 100.2 deg.

Alternate Names

OSCAR 38
Orbiting Picosatellite Automated Launcher

Facts in Brief

Launch Date: 2000-01-27
Launch Vehicle: Minuteman-2
Launch Site: Vandenberg AFB, United States