RAX (USA 218)

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10-day predictions
RAX (USA 218) is classified as:

NORAD ID: 37223

Int'l Code: 2010-062B

Perigee: 584.5 km

Apogee: 602.7 km

Inclination: 72.0 °

Period: 96.4 minutes

Semi major axis: 6964 km

RCS: Unknown

Launch date: November 20, 2010
Source: United States (US)
Launch site: Kodiak Island, Alaska (KODAK)

Uplink (MHz):
Downlink (MHz): 437.505
Beacon (MHz):
Mode: 9600bps GMSK
Call sign: RAX-1
Status: Inactive

The Radio Aurora Explorer, or RAX, is a 6-pound (28-kg) nanosatellite. It's a joint effort of the University of Michigan and SRI International, and it's sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foundation. RAX's primary mission is to study dense plasma clouds in Earth's upper atmosphere. These clouds can disrupt communication between Earth and orbiting spacecraft, and RAX's operators hope the little satellite's measurements can help minimize communication problems in the future.

1 37223U 10062B   24324.29638987  .00006969  00000-0  66269-3 0  9995
2 37223  71.9714 269.4065 0013115  51.7850 308.4499 14.93680790 28157

Source of the keplerian elements: AFSPC