Orbit Altitude: 450 km
Orbit Inclination: 87.27
Period: 94 min
Orbit Type: LEO > Low Earth Orbit > Polar Non-Sun-Synchronous

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CHAMP will generate for the first time simultaneously highly precise gravity
and magnetic field measurements over a 5 years period. This will allow us to
detect besides the spatial variations of both ... fields also their variability
with time. The CHAMP mission will open a new era in geopotential research and
will become a significant contributor to the Decade of Geopotentials. It will
perform the following three tasks: 1) Mapping of the Earth's global long to
medium wavelength gravity field and temporal variations with applications in
the geophysics, geodesy and oceanography; 2) Mapping of the Earth's global
magnetic field and temporal variations with applications in geophysics and
solar terrestrial physics; 3) Atmosphere/ionosphere sounding with applications
in global climate studies, weather forecasting, disaster research and
navigation.

CHAMP-derived data will serve as an ideal basis for a further refinement of
modern satellite surveying methods and constructing digital terrain models
covering large land and ice areas for remote sensing applications and for
cartography. The evaluation of all three kinds of signals CHAMP will be
observing will allow a complete and integrated modeling of the structure and
dynamics of the Earth core and mantle. Such an improvement will strongly
enhance studies concerning the structure and composition of the Earth's
interior and will open new insights and application areas in geodesy, solid
Earth physics and oceanography.

Launch: Launched: July 15, 2000
Launch Site: Plesetzk, Russia

Orbit: Altitude: 450 km and circular
Inclination: 87.27
Period: 94 minutes
Non-Sun-Synchronous

Vital Statistics: Weight: 500 kg
Power: 167 watts
Design Life: 5 years

Instruments: LRR (Laser Retro Reflector)
OVM (Overhauser Magnetometer) and the FGM (Fluxgate Magnetometer)
DIDM (Digital Ion Drift Meter)
ACC (Accelerometer)
GPS (Global Positioning System) Receiver

CHAMP home Page:
http://op.gfz-potsdam.de/champ/

[Summary provided by NASA.]

http://op.gfz-potsdam.de/champ/
http://science.nasa.gov/missions/champ/
http://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/eos_homepage/mission_profiles/show_mission.php?id=66