AeroAstro-built STPSat-1 Satellite Operating Successfully On-orbit

MICROSAT BLITZ

STPSat-1 continues STP's mission to provide access to space for DoD-sponsored experiments. The spacecraft's elegant design incorporated both proven technical design from previous missions and advanced technologies. The satellite construction was tailored for the highly constrained ESPA environment and included advances in electronics packaging, space materials and manufacturing techniques.

by Staff Writers
Ashburn VA (SPX) Apr 18, 2007
AeroAstro reports that STPSat-1 successfully completed Normal Operations Readiness Review (NORR), conducted on 28 March at the Space Development and Test Wing (SDTW) at Kirtland AFB, NM. The NORR marks completion of the on-orbit checkout period that began with STPSat-1's launch on 8 March from Cape Canaveral on an Atlas V rocket. The checkout encompassed complete verification of each spacecraft subsystem's performance, and initialization of the two payload experiments. The checkout period was baselined for 30 days, but was accomplished in less than 3 weeks.

STPSat-1's primary experiment, Spatial Heterodyne Imager for Mesospheric Radicals (SHIMMER), is a high-resolution ultraviolet spectrometer based on the new optical technique known as Spatial Heterodyne Spectroscopy (SHS). SHS facilitates the design of low mass, low power, high throughput spectrometers for space-based remote sensing. The secondary experiment, the Computerized Ionospheric Tomography Receiver in Space (CITRIS), is investigating irregularities that affect propagation of satellite-to-ground links for GPS and communications.

"The STPSat-1 checkout period was accomplished rapidly and smoothly." said Richard Barnisin, AeroAstro's STPSat-1 Program Manager, and Vice President of Space Programs. "Most of the subsystems are performing even better than predicted, and we've confirmed that the experiments are getting good data. The launch sequence and final orbit were near-perfect, providing further verification that the EELV Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) is a viable secondary launch alternative."

AeroAstro developed the low-earth orbiting spacecraft under contract to the Department of Defense (DoD) Space Test Program.

Email This Article

MICROSAT BLITZ

Cornell University Chosen To Build Nanosat-4 Flight Experiment

Reston VA (SPX) Apr 04, 2007
The Cornell University student team and their CUSat nanosatellite design has won the University Nanosat Flight Competition Review (FCR). This win moves the Cornell team on to build the Nanosat-4 flight experiment for the Air Force/AIAA University Nanosatellite Program, a national student satellite design and fabrication competition.

SUPERPOWERS Russia Downbeat Ahead Of NATO Talks Royal Navy's Shame Chinese PM Seeks New Trust With Japan US Backs NATO Enlargement	NUKEWARS North Korea May Be Preparing To Shut Reactor Blair Laments Lack Of Dialogue With Iran A Win-Win Strategy For Iran Iran President Working Continuously To Expand Nuclear Program
MISSILE NEWS India Dismisses Airline Complaints Over Missile Test Thailand Embark On Local Missile Program Lockheed Martin Demonstrates P44 Missile Performance And Agility Raytheon Awarded Contract To Produce Missile Launchers For US Navy	MISSILE DEFENSE Oslo Clash On ABM Czech MPs Visit US Radar Base Earmarked For Missile Shield Russia Targets Counteroffensive Against ABM Raytheon Receives Contracts For Patriot Missile Facility Support
AEROSPACE Nondestructive Testing Keeps Bagram Aircraft Flying New FAA Oceanic Air Traffic System Designed By Lockheed Martin Fully Operational NASA Seeks New Research Proposals Germans Urged To Give Foreign Travel A Rest To Curb Global Warming	UAV NEWS Global Hawk Lands An Industry First For A Goodrich Production Electric Braking System Bental Industries Announces The European Launch Of Its Unique Hybrid System Next-Generation Global Hawk Makes Maiden Flight New Global Hawk Fuselage Exceeds US Air Force Strength And Safety Requirements
IRAQ WARS Bush Seeks Cover On Iraq Iraq Terror Still Surging To New Levels Of Horror No Solid Stats On Iraq Security Wasting Money In Iraq	MILTECH Osprey Aircraft To Take Off In Iraq New Mission Control Room Ready For F-35 Flight Tests Boeing Tests First SBInet Mobile Sensor Tower Northrop Grumman Wins Deal For Ground-Air Task Oriented Radar

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement