Simplesat

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Simplesat

Class: Astronomy. Type: Visible. Nation: USA. Manufacturer: NASA Greenbelt.

Simplesat was intended to test methods for building cheap astronomical satellites and controlling them from a inexpensive ground stations. It was equipped with a 0.3 m optical telescope and a GPS attitude control system. The 52 kg, 0.48 m diameter, 0.66 m high octagonal cylinder was developed by NASA-Goddard.

Length: 0.66 m (2.16 ft). Maximum Diameter: 0.48 m (1.57 ft). Mass: 52 kg (114 lb).

Simplesat Chronology

2001 August 20 - Simplesat - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC39A. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle. Mass: 52 kg (114 lb). Perigee: 130 km (80 mi). Apogee: 135 km (83 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 87.10 min.
Simplesat was small astronomical test satellite ejected from a GAS Cannister in shuttle Discovery's payload bay. No contact was ever made with Simplesat after its release; evidently the satellite failed.

Bibliography:

McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page (launch records), Harvard University, 1997-present. Web Address when accessed: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
National Space Science Center Planetary Page, As of 19 February 1999.. Web Address when accessed: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/planetary_home.html.

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© Mark Wade, 1997 - 2008 except where otherwise noted.