Challenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) was a German satellite launched July 15, 2000 from Plesetsk, Russia and was used for atmospheric and ionospheric research, as well as other geoscientific applications, such as GPS radio occultation, gravity field determination, and studying the Earth's magnetic field.

To remove the effect of external, non-gravitational forces (e.g., atmospheric drag, solar radiation pressure) the satellite features an internal 3-axis STAR accelerometer.

Spacecraft attitude is measured using Advanced Stellar Compass (ASC) star tracker supplied by Technical University of Denmark and attitude control is provided by three magnetorquers and cold gas thrusters.

[4] Mounted on the boom, the satellite has an Magnetometer Instrument Assembly System (MIAS) for measurement of the Earth's magnetic field.

[8] The mission was judged as being successful by the involved scientists,[9] in particular as the original 5 year design life was significantly extended.