GEOS-3 Mission

Objectives and Applications

GEOS-3 was an important stepping stone between the National Geodetic Satellite Program (NGSP) and the Earth and Ocean Physics Application Program. In addition to furthering understanding of Earth's gravitational field and the size and shape of the terrestrial geoid, GEOS-3 hosted instrumentation designed to obtain data about deep ocean tides, sea state and current structure.

Mission Summary

Full Name
Geodynamics Experimental Ocean Satellite
Mission Status
Mission complete
Mission Agencies
Launch Date
09 Apr 1975
Mission Links
EOL Date
01 Jul 1979
EO Portal Info

Orbit Details

Orbit Type
Highly elliptical
Orbit Period
101.52 minutes
Orbit Sense
Orbit Inclination
115 deg
Orbit Altitude
Orbit Longitude
Orbit LST
Repeat Cycle
NORAD Catalog #
International Designator

Mission Instruments

Mission Measurements