NEXTSat
| Mission type | Technology |
|---|---|
| Operator | DARPA |
| COSPAR ID | 2007-006C |
| SATCAT no. | 30774 |
| Mission duration | 4 months |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | RS-300 |
| Manufacturer | Ball Aerospace |
| Launch mass | 224 kilograms (494 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 9 March 2007, 03:10 UTC |
| Rocket | Atlas V 401 AV-013 |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 |
| Contractor | United Launch Alliance |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Decommissioned |
| Deactivated | 21 July 2007 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 490 kilometers (300 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 498 kilometers (309 mi) |
| Inclination | 46.0 degrees |
NEXTSat, or Next Generation Satellite and Commodities Spacecraft (NEXTSat/CSC) is an American technology demonstration satellite which was operated as part of the Orbital Express programme. It was used as a target spacecraft for a demonstration of autonomous servicing and refueling operations performed by the ASTRO satellite.[1] Launched in March 2007, it was operated for four months, and then deactivated in orbit.
NEXTSat was launched by United Launch Alliance on an Atlas V 401 rocket; serial number AV-013. The launch occurred at 03:10 UTC on 9 March 2007, from Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.[2] The launch was contracted by the Space Test Program to launch the STPSat-1 spacecraft, and was named STP-1. It also deployed ASTRO; as well as FalconSAT-3, CFESat and MidSTAR-1.[1] The launch marked the first time United Launch Alliance had launched an Atlas V, the type having previously been operated by International Launch Services.
NEXTSat is a 224-kilogram (494 lb) spacecraft,[1] which was built by Ball Aerospace around the RS-300 satellite bus.[3] It was operated in low Earth orbit; on 9 March 2007, it had a perigee of 490 kilometres (300 mi), an apogee of 498 kilometres (309 mi), 46.0 degrees of inclination, and an orbital period of 94.49 minutes.[4] After completing operations, the ASTRO and NEXTSat spacecraft were separated, and ASTRO performed a separation burn. On 21 July 2007, NEXTSat was deactivated. As of 2007[update], it was expected to remain in orbit until around 2012.[5]
References
- ^ a b c Krebs, Gunter. "NEXTSAT/CSC". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Ball: RS-300". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
- ^ Clark, Stephen (23 July 2007). "Satellite in-space servicing demo mission a success". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
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