Skip to content
79,433 pages · 13,741 images · since 1994 Browse A–Z Today in space history
Encyclopedia Astronautica The full story of spaceflight
Encyclopedia entry

BCP-600

Spacecraft

FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC AT OUR PARTNER SITE

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

Ball Aerospace satellite bus designed for NASA Designed for Small Explorer (SMEX) Class Missions.

More at: BCP-600.

Subtopics

  • GFO American oceanorgraphic radar satellite. GFO was a follow-on to the successful GEOSAT program which flew between 1985 and 1990. GFO was to provide real-time ocean topography data to 65 Navy users at sea and on shore. Altimetry satellite built by Ball Aerospace for US Navy, USA. Launched 1998. Used the BCP-600 (formerly called Techstar) bus.
  • MTI American military surveillance satellite. The Multispectral Thermal Imager (MTI) was a space-based research and development project sponsored by the U. Experimental satellite built by Ball Aerospace for DoE, USAF STP (Space Test Program), USA. Launched 2000. Used the BCP-600 bus.

Chronology

3 events

1992 September

  • GFO Contract - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft Bus: BCP-600. Spacecraft: GFO. GFO was a follow-on to the GEOSAT program. GFO was to provide real-time ocean topography data. The GFO contract was awarded in September 1992 and is worth $46M for the first satellite and $115M if options for two additional spacecraft are exercised..

1998 February 10

13:20 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg 576E. LV Family: Taurus. Launch Vehicle: Taurus 2210.
  • GFO - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Manufacturer: Ball. Class: Earth. Type: Civilian Radarsat. Spacecraft Bus: BCP-600. Spacecraft: GFO. USAF Sat Cat: 25157 . COSPAR: 1998-007A. Apogee: 788 km (489 mi). Perigee: 786 km (488 mi). Inclination: 108.10 deg. Period: 100.60 min. Altimeter..

2000 March 12

09:29 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg 576E. LV Family: Taurus. Launch Vehicle: Taurus 1110.
  • MTI - . Mass: 587 kg (1,294 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Los Alamos. Manufacturer: Sandia. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: BCP-600. Spacecraft: MTI. USAF Sat Cat: 26102 . COSPAR: 2000-014A. Apogee: 609 km (378 mi). Perigee: 574 km (357 mi). Inclination: 97.40 deg. Period: 96.42 min. Military Technology. Sandia Multispectral Thermal Imager (MTI), aka USAF Space Test Program mission P97-3. The satellite was equipped with a hyperspectral imager for military target recognition / treaty monitoring applications..