{{Short description|Joint US-Taiwan meteorological satellite constellation}} {{Infobox spaceflight | name = COSMIC | names_list = FORMOSAT-3

<!--image of the spacecraft/mission--> | image = Cosmic (meteorological satellites) logo.png | image_caption = COSMIC | image_alt = <!--image alt text--> | image_size = <!--include px/em; defaults to 220px-->

<!--Basic details--> | mission_type = Meteorology, Ionosphere, Climatology, and Space weather research | operator = <!--organisation(s) that operate(d) the spacecraft--> | Harvard_designation = <!--spacecraft launched 1962 and earlier only (e.g. 1957 Alpha 2)--> | COSPAR_ID = {{Cospar|2006-011A}}, {{Cospar|2006-011B}}, {{Cospar|2006-011C}}, {{Cospar|2006-011D}}, {{Cospar|2006-011E}}, {{Cospar|2006-011F}}, | SATCAT = 29047, 29048, 29049, 29050, 29051, 29052 | website = [https://www.nspo.narl.org.tw/en2016/projects/FORMOSAT-3/program-description.html www.nspo.narl.org.tw] | mission_duration = Final: {{time interval|15 April 2006 01:40|1 May 2020|show=ymd|sep=,}}

<!--Spacecraft properties--> | spacecraft = <!--Spacecraft name/serial number (e.g. Space Shuttle ''Discovery'', Apollo CM-118), etc--> | spacecraft_type = <!--e.g. GPS Block II, Kobalt-M, US-K, etc--> | spacecraft_bus = <!--e.g. A2100M, Star-2, etc--> | manufacturer = Orbital Sciences Corporation | launch_mass = 6 × {{convert|155|lb|abbr=on}} | BOL_mass = <!--spacecraft mass in orbit at beginning of operational life, after LEOP phase--> | landing_mass = <!--Mass after landing (recovered spacecraft only)--> | dry_mass = <!--spacecraft mass in orbit without fuel--> | payload_mass = <!--Mass of cargo carried by spacecraft (e.g. for Space Shuttle), or total mass of instrumentation/equipment/experiments for mission--> | dimensions = <!--body dimensions and solar array span--> | power = <!--end-of-life power, in watts-->

<!--Launch details--> | launch_date = {{start-date|15 April 2006, 01:40}}&nbsp;UTC | launch_rocket = Minotaur I Flight 5 | launch_site = Vandenberg SLC-8 | launch_contractor = Orbital Sciences | entered_service = <!--date on which the spacecraft entered service, if it did not do so immediately after launch-->

<!--end of mission--> | disposal_type = decommissioned | deactivated = {{end-date|1 May 2020}} | decay_date = <!--when craft re-entered the atmosphere, not needed if it landed-->

<!--orbit parameters--> <!--as science-related articles, SI units should be the principal units of measurement, however we usually use {{convert}} to display imperial units in parentheses after the initial values--> | orbit_reference = Geocentric | orbit_regime = <!--high, low, medium, molniya, GSO - please link (e.g. Low Earth - please don't use acronyms--> | orbit_longitude = <!--geosynchronous satellites only--> | orbit_slot = <!--Designation of orbital position or slot, if not longitude (e.g plane and position of a GPS satellite)--> | orbit_semimajor = <!--semimajor axis--> | orbit_eccentricity = 0 | orbit_periapsis = {{convert|500|km|abbr=on}} | orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|500|km|abbr=on}} | orbit_inclination = 72° | orbit_period = <!--time taken to complete an orbit--> | orbit_RAAN = <!--right ascension of the ascending node--> | orbit_arg_periapsis = <!--argument of perigee/periapsis--> | orbit_mean_anomaly = <!--mean anomaly at epoch, only use in conjunction with an epoch value--> | orbit_mean_motion = <!--mean motion of the satellite, usually measured in orbits per day--> | orbit_repeat = <!--repeat interval/revisit time--> | orbit_velocity = <!--speed at which the spacecraft was travelling at epoch - only use for spacecraft with low orbital eccentricity--> | orbit_epoch = <!--the date at which the orbit parameters were correct--> | orbit_rev_number = <!--revolution number--> | apsis = gee

<!--transponder parameters--> | trans_band = <!--Transponder frequency bands--> | trans_frequency = <!--specific frequencies--> | trans_bandwidth = <!--bandwidth--> | trans_capacity = <!--capacity of the transponders--> | trans_coverage = <!--area covered--> | trans_TWTA = <!--TWTA output power--> | trans_EIRP = <!--equivalent isotropic power--> | trans_HPBW = <!--half-power beam width-->

<!--Only use where a spacecraft/mission is part of a clear programme of sequential missions. If in doubt, leave it out--> | programme = | previous_mission = | next_mission =

<!--mission insignia or patch--> | insignia = <!--omit the "file" prefix--> | insignia_caption = <!--image caption--> | insignia_alt = <!--image alt text--> | insignia_size = <!--include px/em; defaults to 180px--> }}

'''Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate''' ('''COSMIC''') is a program designed to provide advances in meteorology, ionospheric research, climatology, and space weather by using GPS satellites in conjunction with low Earth orbiting (LEO) satellites. The term "COSMIC" may refer to either the organization itself or the constellation of 6 satellites (also known as '''COSMIC-1''' and as '''FORMOSAT-3''', 福爾摩沙衛星三號, in Taiwan). The constellation is a joint U.S.-Taiwanese project with major participants including the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), the National Science Foundation, the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), SRI International on the U.S. side and the National Space Organization (NSPO) on the Taiwanese side.

The total cost of the spacecraft and launch was US$100 million, 80% of which was being provided by NSPO, and the remainder by various U.S. agencies.<ref>{{cite web |title=COSMIC: About |work=UCAR COSMIC |url=http://www.cosmic.ucar.edu/about.html |access-date=18 April 2006 |archive-date=16 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130716104441/http://www.cosmic.ucar.edu/about.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After experiencing several delays, the launch of the COSMIC satellite constellation atop a Minotaur launch vehicle from Vandenberg AFB occurred at 01:40 GMT, on 15 April 2006, despite heavy fog.<ref>{{cite news |first=Justin |last=Ray |title=Launch Coverage for Minotaur Rocket' COSMIC Mission |date=14 April 2006 |publisher=Spaceflight Now |url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/sfn_minotaur_cosmic_cntdwn.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060415195024/http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/sfn_minotaur_cosmic_cntdwn.html |archive-date=15 April 2006}}</ref> The satellites, which orbit at an altitude of 500 miles, required over a year to move into the correct positions to provide full global coverage.

A follow-up constellation, COSMIC-2, launched 25 June 2019 on a Falcon Heavy rocket.

==Instruments== thumb|left|Components of a FORMOSAT-3 satellite The COSMIC satellites are equipped with three primary forms of instrumentation for remote sensing, including: *GPS Radio Occultation Experiment *Tri-band beacon (TBB), in VHF, UHF and L-band *Tiny Ionospheric Photometer (TIP)<ref>{{cite press release |publisher=UCAR |date=12 April 2006 |title=New Satellite System Will Use GPS Signals To Track Hurricanes, Climate Change, and Space Weather |url=http://www.ucar.edu/news/releases/2006/cosmic.shtml |access-date=15 April 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060626171345/http://www.ucar.edu/news/releases/2006/cosmic.shtml |archive-date=26 June 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

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==Deployment== All 6 microsatellites were launched on a single launch vehicle and deployed into a single parking orbit after launch. The spacecraft were then deployed into separate orbital planes through the use of precession due to the oblateness of the Earth and raised to a final orbital altitude over the course of several months. Scientific data were collected during the deployment process, along with experimental validation and calibration.

==Status== thumb|Model of FORMOSAT-3 FM2's power system lost 50% of its output in February 2007, while FM3's solar panel also malfunctioned since August 2007. As a result, both satellites are operating in a degraded state, capable of returning data only during specific solar angles. FM6 went out of control in September 2007, but control was restored by 16 November of the same year.<ref>[http://www.cosmic.ucar.edu/launch/status.html COSMIC Current Status] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704062725/http://www.cosmic.ucar.edu/launch/status.html |date=4 July 2008 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.cosmic.ucar.edu/] COSMIC Homepage</ref> FM3 had severe power problems since 6 July 2010. It was declared not functional since then. FM4, FM5, and FM6 have had battery aging problem.<ref>C.-J. Fong, D. Whiteley, E. Yang, K. Cook, V. Chu, B. Schreiner, D. Ector, P. Wilczynski, T.-Y. Liu, & N. L. Yen, "Space & Ground Segment Performance of the FORMOSAT-3 / COSMIC Mission: Four Years in Orbit," Atmospheric Measurement Techniques Discussions, ''Volume 4,'' Issue 1, 2011, pp. 599-638 (abstract here: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011AMTD....4..599F )</ref>

The data published by the COSMIC-1 constellation has been used in weather models to improve the quality of weather forecasts.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Fong |first1=Chen-Joe |last2=Yang |first2=Shan-Kuo |last3=Chu |first3=Chung-Huei |last4=Huang |first4=Cheng-Yung |last5=Yeh |first5=Jia-Jing |last6=Lin |first6=Chen-Tsung |last7=Kuo |first7=Tien-Chuan |last8=Liu |first8=Tie-Yue |last9=Yen |first9=Nick L. |last10=Chen |first10=Shao-Shing |last11=Kuo |first11=Ying-Hwa |last12=Liou |first12=Yuei-An |last13=Chi |first13=Sien |title=FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC Constellation Spacecraft System Performance: After One Year in Orbit |journal=IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing |date=November 2008 |volume=46 |issue=11 |pages=3380–3394 |doi=10.1109/TGRS.2008.2005203|bibcode=2008ITGRS..46.3380F |s2cid=21159012 }}</ref> On 1 May 2020, the satellite constellation was retired.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chung |first1=Jake |title=Formosat-3 retired after 14 years |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2020/05/01/2003735621 |access-date=1 May 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=1 May 2020}}</ref>

==Orbital information== ===Parking orbit=== *Altitude: 500&nbsp;km *Inclination: 72 degrees *Eccentricity: 0

===Final orbital configuration=== *Altitude: 700 – 800&nbsp;km *Inclination: 72 degrees *Eccentricity: 0 *Spacing between right ascension of ascending node: 24 degrees *Spacing in mean anomaly between adjacent orbital planes: 45 degrees

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==See also== {{Portal |Spaceflight}}

* CHAMP * FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2, replacement mission launched in 2019 * Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) * MetOp, a European weather satellite that also carries a GPS radio occultation receiver * National Space Organization * The TaiWan Ionospheric Model * 2006 in spaceflight

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==References== {{Reflist |30em}}

==External links== {{commons category|FORMOSAT-3}} *[http://www.cosmic.ucar.edu/ Official site] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20061004050230/http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?MCode=COSMIC COSMIC Mission Profile] by [http://solarsystem.nasa.gov NASA's Solar System Exploration] *[http://www.ucar.edu/ University Corporation for Atmospheric Research] (UCAR) *[https://web.archive.org/web/20051205084702/http://www.uop.ucar.edu/ UCAR Office of Programs] (UOP) *[http://www.nspo.org.tw/2005e/ National SPace Organization] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121095504/http://www.nspo.org.tw/2005e/ |date=2008-11-21 }} (NSPO) - COSMIC's Taiwanese counterpart. *[https://www.science.org/content/article/little-satellite-fleet-could ScienceNOW: ''The Little Satellite Fleet That Could''],

{{Formosat}} {{Orbital launches in 2006}}

Category:Spacecraft launched in 2006 Category:Spacecraft launched by Minotaur rockets Category:Earth observation satellites of Taiwan Category:Earth observation satellites of the United States