Odin (satellite)
Mission type | Aeronomy, Astrophysics |
---|---|
Operator | OHB Sweden, former part of SSC Funded by SNSB, TEKES, CSA, CNES |
COSPAR ID | 2001-007A |
SATCAT no. | 26702 |
Website | www |
Mission duration | Elapsed: 24 years, 4 months and 11 days |
Spacecraft properties | |
Manufacturer | Swedish Space Corporation |
Dry mass | 250 kg (550 lb) |
Power | 340.0 watts |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 20 February 2001, 08:48:27 | UTC
Rocket | Start-1 |
Launch site | Svobodny 5 |
Contractor | United Start |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Low Earth |
Perigee altitude | 622 km (386 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 622 km (386 mi) |
Inclination | 97.83° |
Period | 97.60 minutes |
Odin is a Swedish satellite working in two disciplines: astrophysics and aeronomy. It was named after Odin of Norse mythology. Within the field of astrophysics, Odin was used until the spring of 2007 aiding in the study of star formation. Odin is still used for aeronomical observations, including exploration of the depletion of the ozone layer and effects of global warming. The satellite is still functioning nominally (June 2025) and is expected to deorbit in 2026.[1]
Overview
[edit]The main instrument on Odin is a radiometer using a 1.1 m telescope, designed to be used for both the astronomy and aeronomy missions. The radiometer works at 486–580 GHz and at 119 GHz. The second instrument on board is the OSIRIS (Optical Spectrograph and InfraRed Imager System).[2]
Odin was developed by the Space Systems Division of Swedish Space Corporation (now OHB Sweden) as part of an international project involving the space agencies of Sweden (SNSB), Finland (TEKES), Canada (CSA) and France (CNES). Odin was launched on a START-1 rocket on 20 February 2001 from Svobodny, Russia.[2]
In April 2007, astronomers announced that Odin had made the first ever detection of molecular oxygen (O
2) in interstellar clouds.[3][4] The operator announced in 2025 that the satellite is expected to burn up in the atmosphere in the second quarter of 2026 and is expected to be operational until then, outliving the expected two year lifetime by 23 years.[1]
Lists
[edit]International partners:[5]
Agencies or organizations involved in Odin:[5]
- Swedish National Space Board
- Swedish Space Corporation
- Canadian Space Agency
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (of Canada)
- National Technology Agency of Finland
- CNES (France)
Objectives:[5]
- Astronomy
- Aeronomy applications
- Atmospheric research
- Stratospheric ozone chemistry
- Mesospheric ozone science
- Summer mesospheric science
- Coupling of atmospheric regions
Results
[edit]Examples:
- Odin has observed water in comets.[6]
- Odin detected of molecular oxygen (O
2) in interstellar clouds.[3][4] - Odin observed carbon monoxide in the strato-mesosphere.[7]
- Odin has studied nitrous oxides in the atmosphere.[8]
See also
[edit]- Swedish National Space Agency
- 2001 Mars Odyssey (another spacecraft launched in 2001 that is still in use)
- Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite
- Herschel Space Observatory
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Odin is now in its final year as an operational satellite". SSC. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Odin". Swedish National Space Agency. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
- ^ a b "Molecular Oxygen Detected For The First Time In The Interstellar Medium". ScienceDaily. CNRS. 17 April 2007. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
- ^ a b "Odin celebrates 14 years in orbit". ESA. 20 February 2015. Archived from the original on 6 July 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
- ^ a b c "Odin - Earth Online". earth.esa.int.
- ^ A. Lecacheux; N. Biver; J. Crovisier; D. Bockelée-Morvan; P. Baron; R. S. Booth; P. Encrenaz; H.-G. Florén; U. Frisk; Å. Hjalmarson; S. Kwok; K. Mattila; L. Nordh; M. Olberg; A. O. H. Olofsson; H. Rickman; Aa. Sandqvist; F. von Schéele; G. Serra; S. Torchinsky; K. Volk; A. Winnberg (May 2003). "Observations of water in comets with Odin" (PDF). Astronomy & Astrophysics. 402 (3): L55 – L58. Bibcode:2003A&A...402L..55L. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20030338. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
- ^ Dupuy, É. (2004). "Strato-mesospheric measurements of carbon monoxide with the Odin Sub-Millimetre Radiometer: Retrieval and first results". Geophysical Research Letters. 31 (20). Bibcode:2004GeoRL..3120101D. doi:10.1029/2004GL020558.
- ^ S. Brohede; C. A. Mclinden; J. Urban; C. S. Haley; A. I. Jonsson; D. Murtagh (2008). "Odin stratospheric proxy NOy measurements and climatology". Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 8 (19): 5731–5754. Bibcode:2008ACP.....8.5731B. doi:10.5194/acp-8-5731-2008. Retrieved 12 March 2019.