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ORBVIEW 2 (SEASTAR)

OrbView-2, also known as SeaStar, carried the SeaWiFS instrument to observe ocean color. Launched in 1997, it produced an influential global record of chlorophyll and marine biological productivity.

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Object identity

NORAD ID
24883
COSPAR ID
1997-037A
Operator
Not listed
Country
Not listed
Launch date
Not listed

Immediate discovery

Why this satellite matters

Ocean color science relies on separating subtle wavelength-dependent signals from atmospheric effects. The mathematics connects calibrated radiance measurements to estimates of phytoplankton concentration.

Understanding the mission

Science and engineering ideas

Ocean color science relies on separating subtle wavelength-dependent signals from atmospheric effects. The mathematics connects calibrated radiance measurements to estimates of phytoplankton concentration.

Mission

Mission and purpose

The current public orbital catalog identifies this object, but verified mission-specific information may be limited. TransitSatellite will expand this page when authoritative information is available.

  • Ocean color science relies on separating subtle wavelength-dependent signals from atmospheric effects. The mathematics connects calibrated radiance measurements to estimates of phytoplankton concentration.

Design

Engineering

Ocean color science relies on separating subtle wavelength-dependent signals from atmospheric effects. The mathematics connects calibrated radiance measurements to estimates of phytoplankton concentration.

Real orbital values

The mathematics

The current two-line element set reports approximately 14.3559 revolutions per day. Dividing 1,440 minutes by that value gives an estimated orbital period of 100.3 minutes.

Period

100.3 min

Representative speed

26,877 km/h

Representative altitude

780 km

Inclination

98.88°

These are representative calculations derived from current orbital elements, not fixed physical specifications. Altitude and speed change around an elliptical orbit, and predictions change as new orbital elements are published.

Launch record

Launch and deployment

SeaStar launched on 1 August 1997 aboard a Pegasus XL air-launched rocket.

TransitSatellite does not estimate historical launch weather. Temperature, clouds, wind, holds, and scrub reasons will appear only when supported by traceable historical sources.

Orbit

LEO orbit explained

Low Earth orbit is the region closest to Earth used by most crewed spacecraft, many science missions, Earth-observation satellites, and large constellations. Objects move quickly and commonly complete an orbit in roughly 90 to 130 minutes.

LEO can provide detailed Earth views, lower communications delay, and easier access than higher orbits, but it covers less area per spacecraft and is more affected by atmospheric drag.

Live TransitSatellite experience

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Learning

Questions to explore

  • What can an orbit tell us before the mission is fully identified?
  • Why are stable catalog identifiers important?

Evidence

Sources and data notes

Current identity and orbital elements come from CelesTrak’s public GP data. Calculated orbit values are derived from the current TLE and may change after catalog updates. Mission-history claims are added separately and require authoritative sources.

Catalog updated

Sep 17, 2026, 5:37 AM UTC

Story review

1970-01-01T00:00:00.000Z