29047, 29048, 29049, 29050, 29051, 29052 - FORMOSAT 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F

FORMOSAT 3A, FORMOSAT 3B, FORMOSAT 3C, FORMOSAT 3D, FORMOSAT 3E, and FORMOSAT 3F (also known as COSMIC-A through COSMIC-F) are six Taiwanese-American satellites that were launched by a Minotaur rocket from Vandenberg AFB at 01:40 UT on 2006 April 15. After maneuvering their relative positions in the orbit, they will enable derivation of the atmospheric temperature and water vapor distribution by looking for the GPS radio signals arriving from the horizon. The occulted signals suffer refraction depending upon atmospheric parameters. Such data over oceans will be especially useful in predicting cyclogenesis conditions. The initial orbital parameters of all six were nearly identical: period 95 min, apogee 540 km, perigee 496 km, and inclination 72 degrees.

Facts in Brief

Launch Date: 2006-04-15
Launch Vehicle: Minotaur 1
Launch Site: Vandenberg AFB, United States