Odin (satellite)

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title: "Odin (satellite)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["spacecraft-launched-in-2001", "geospace-monitoring-satellites", "space-programme-of-sweden", "submillimetre-telescopes"] description: "Swedish satellite with radiometer, launched in 2001" topic_path: "science/astronomy" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odin_(satellite)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Swedish satellite with radiometer, launched in 2001 ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox spaceflight"]

Field	Value
name	Odin
mission_type	Aeronomy, Astrophysics
operator	OHB Sweden, former part of SSC
Funded by SNSB, TEKES, CSA, CNES
website
COSPAR_ID	2001-007A
SATCAT	26702
mission_duration	Elapsed:
manufacturer	Swedish Space Corporation
dry_mass	250 kg
power	340.0 watts
launch_date	UTC
launch_rocket	Start-1
launch_site	Svobodny 5
launch_contractor	United Start
last_contact
orbit_reference	Geocentric
orbit_regime	Low Earth
orbit_periapsis	622 km
orbit_apoapsis	622 km
orbit_inclination	97.83°
orbit_period	97.60 minutes
apsis	gee
::

| name = Odin | image = | image_caption = | insignia = | mission_type = Aeronomy, Astrophysics | operator = OHB Sweden, former part of SSC Funded by SNSB, TEKES, CSA, CNES | website = | COSPAR_ID = 2001-007A | SATCAT = 26702 | mission_duration = Elapsed: | spacecraft_bus = | manufacturer = Swedish Space Corporation | dry_mass = 250 kg | launch_mass = | payload_mass = | power = 340.0 watts

| launch_date = UTC | launch_rocket = Start-1 | launch_site = Svobodny 5 | launch_contractor = United Start

| disposal_type = | deactivated = | last_contact = | decay_date =

| orbit_epoch = | orbit_reference = Geocentric | orbit_regime = Low Earth | orbit_periapsis = 622 km | orbit_apoapsis = 622 km | orbit_inclination = 97.83° | orbit_longitude = | orbit_period = 97.60 minutes | apsis = gee 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.

Overview

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).

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.

In April 2007, astronomers announced that Odin had made the first ever detection of molecular oxygen () in interstellar clouds. 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.

Lists

International partners:

• Sweden
• Canada
• France
• Finland

Agencies or organizations involved in Odin:

• 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:

• Astronomy
• Aeronomy applications
• Atmospheric research
• Stratospheric ozone chemistry
• Mesospheric ozone science
• Summer mesospheric science
• Coupling of atmospheric regions

Results

Examples:

• Odin has observed water in comets.
• Odin detected of molecular oxygen () in interstellar clouds.
• Odin observed carbon monoxide in the strato-mesosphere.
• Odin has studied nitrous oxides in the atmosphere.

References

References

1. "Odin is now in its final year as an operational satellite". [[Swedish Space Corporation.
2. "Odin". [[Swedish National Space Agency]].
3. (17 April 2007). "Molecular Oxygen Detected For The First Time In The Interstellar Medium".
4. (20 February 2015). "Odin celebrates 14 years in orbit". [[ESA]].
5. "Odin - Earth Online".
6. (May 2003). "Observations of water in comets with Odin". [[Astronomy & Astrophysics]].
7. (2004). "Strato-mesospheric measurements of carbon monoxide with the Odin Sub-Millimetre Radiometer: Retrieval and first results". Geophysical Research Letters.
8. (2008). "Odin stratospheric proxy NOy measurements and climatology". [[Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics]].

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