Space Industry and Business News  
Micro Satellite Launches Into Space

The Tactical satellite spacecraft has commenced operations on a planned six to 12-month experimental mission after a successful launch.
by Michael P. Kleiman
Space Vehicles Directorate Public Affairs USAF
Wallops Island VA (AFNS) Jan 01, 2007
The Tactical satellite spacecraft has commenced operations on a planned six to 12-month experimental mission after a successful launch onboard a Minotaur I rocket from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Wallops Island Flight Facility, Dec. 16. The micro satellite, managed by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate here, entered into a circular orbit at a 40 degree inclination approximately 255 miles above the Earth.

The tactical satellite, dubbed "TacSat-2," is considered to be another step toward developing low-cost, customized and rapidly deployable space capabilities for theater warfighters, who someday may place a number of these assets into orbit as they prepare for contingency operations.

According to Neal Peck, TacSat-2 program manager, all of the spacecraft's components are functioning properly, and the system is performing like clockwork.

"The project team is excited about the positive start to a milestone mission for the future of rapid, responsive space operations," said Peck.

Featuring 11 instrument packages, the TacSat-2 mission will include experiments directly supporting the warfighter on the ground. Two trials -- the 20-inch telescope constructed by the Space Vehicles Directorate, and the Common Data Link tactical radio -- will impact on deployed forces.

The 20-inch telescope will demonstrate low-cost, high-quality photography. The Common Data Link tactical radio will provide communication and image transmissions to a U.S. Navy facility at China Lake, Calif. Additional planned trials involve the integrated global positioning system occultation receiver, which will compute high-precision location information for the spacecraft, recycled solar array panels producing 500 watts of power, and autonomous operations.

TacSat-2 represents a partnership between Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA, the Department of Defense's Space Test Program (Space and Missile Systems Center's Space Development and Test Wing), the Naval Research Laboratory, the Army Space Program Office, Air Force Space Command and the Space Warfare Center.

In addition, the micro satellite was built by MicroSat Systems, Inc., with the command and data handling system, electrical power system, as well as the flight software supplied by Broad Reach Engineering. Jackson and Tull provided the innovative integration and testing of TacSat-2.

Related Links
Microsat and Nanosats at SpaceMart.com
Military Space News at SpaceWar.com
Microsat News and Nanosat News at SpaceMart.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Medical Company Lists On Anonymous Trading Market To Avoid Animal Extremists
Washington (UPI) Dec 29, 2006
The decision by the New York Stock Exchange to list a medical research company targeted by animal rights protestors on a new electronic market where shares can be traded anonymously is being hailed as a victory by animal researchers. Life Sciences Research, Inc., a Princeton, N.J.-based medical research firm that specializes in animal experiments announced just before Christmas that it had settled a dispute with the NYSE, and would be listed on the exchange's new all-electronic trading platform called Arca.















  • The Mathematics Of Cloaking

  • Space Command Civilian Volunteers To Deploy Down Range





  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights 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 Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement