The FREJA Magnetospheric Research Satellite Design and Flight Operations

The FREJA magnetospheric research satellite was launched on October 6, 1992 as a "piggyback" payload on a Long March 2C rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China. The satellite is in an orbit between 601 and 1756 km at 63.0° inclination. FREJA is a sun-pointing spinner with a 2.2 m diameter and 214.0 kg mass. The Swedish Space Corporation is the Prime Contractor to the Swedish National Space Board. FREJA images the aurora and measures particles and fields in the upper ionosphere and lower magnetosphere. Swedish, German, Canadian and U.S. instruments are flown on the satellite. Ground stations are Esrange, Sweden and the Prince Albert Satellite Station in Canada. This paper is an overview of FREJA emphasising design procurement, engineering, management and operations methods used to achieve a low program cost (14 M$ incl. launch, excl. experiments).