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Millennial Flight mission
patch
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Family
and friends on the Millennial Flight launch pad tour. |
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Vandenberg Air Force
Base is near the city of Lompoc, about a two to three hour
drive northwest of Los Angeles. |
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The Millennial Flight
was launched December 20, 1999 at approximately 11:30 a.m. Pacific
Standard Time aboard an Orbital Sciences Corporation Taurus rocket.
The launch occurred at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. On
board were participants from the USA, China, Japan, Germany and
the Netherlands. Read
their stories....
The Taurus rocket placed the Celestis Earthview 03 satellite into
Earth Orbit with the following parameters:
Orbit: 678 x 719 km, 98.3°
Eccentricity: 0.0028693
Inclination: 098.2627°
Perigee Height: 678 km
Apogee Height: 719 km
Right Ascension of Ascending Node: 024.9423°
Argument of Perigee: 150.9033°
Revolutions per Day: 14.58259622
Estimated Orbital Lifetime: 240 years
The spacecraft (designated as "CELESTIS 03/TAURUS R/B")
is still on orbit and can be tracked here.
As usual, we welcomed friends, family members, and others as our
special guests for a launch pad tour, launch viewing, and memorial
activities.
In addition to the Celestis payload, this flight included a Korean
multi-purpose satellite (KOMPSAT), along with the third instrument
in a series of solar monitoring tools built for NASA called ACRIMSAT,
designed to study the level of radiation emitted by the Sun.
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The launch
was more than I can ever explain in words! It has actually changed
the way that I think of John. I still mourn of the loss of John's
companionship, but you [Celestis] have given me the opportunity
to feel pleasure in knowing he is accomplishing what he never
could have done in this life. The whole experience of the tour,
memorial service and the launch has forever changed me. I know
it sounds curious, but it feels like a rebirth."
Alberta Mayo (Wife) -- Celestis Earthview 03,
The Millennial
Flight |
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