BackForward Satellite Programme: Solar Anomalous and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer 

Programme details
Programme description
  • Single-satellite programme, addressing solar physics.  First of the NASA Small Explorer programme (SMEX).
  • USA programme: NASA responsible of development and operations, in collaboration with a number of scientific institutes.
  • The satellite is stabilised over 3 axes controlled so as to keep the instruments to point the Sun.
  • The design lifetime is 3 years.
  • The orbit is drifting, in high inclination.
  • See detailed description at https://directory.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/s/sampex.
Data circulation
  • Data are stored onboard and retrieved in S-band twice per day at the NASA Wallops Island Orbital Tracking Station; therafter transmitted to the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) for processing.
  • Data distribution from the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC).
Agencies NASA
Programme lifetime 1992 - 2012
Associated satellites and instruments

Note: red tag => no longer operational , green tag => operational , blue tag => planned