Optical Calibration Sphere (OCS)
OCS is a 3.5 meter diameter kapton/aluminum balloon that is designed to orbit the Earth for up to two years. The design, fabrication, testing and delivery of the flight unit in less than four months was a significant milestone in our company's history.

Our Optical Calibration Sphere was successfully launched on January 26, 2000. It was launch from the California Spaceport.

After successfully completing its one year mission, the OCS reenetered the Earth's atmosphere on March 5, 2001. It is estimated that it decayed southwest of Australia. It completely burned up and no components struck the ground. Read the report discussing the OCS's last moments.

Our OCS was featured not once, but twice

View Orange County NewsChannel's story on the OCS

Display the current position of the objects launched with the OCS courtesy of Heavens-Above.

The OCS and its ejection cradle.

Smaller sphere is packaged in the OCS.

OCS (black hexagon) mounted on Jawsat payload.

The OSP rocket uses a combination of deactivated Minuteman II rocket motors.


View the launch of the Minotaur rocket courtesy of space.com.
Check out space.com's story about the OCS.
See how the OCs was viewed in orbit by the Starfire Optical Range.
See what some amateur observers are saying about OCS.


Orbital Parameters Inclination: 100.2°
Perigee Height: 405 naut miles
Apogee Height: 430 naut miles
Orbit period: 100 minutes

Updated 10 January 2002