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SA-200

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Mightysat 2.1 Credit: Manufacturer Image

AKA: Fermi;GeoEye;Leostar;NFIRE;Nustar;SA;STSS. Status: Operational 2000. First Launch: 2000-07-19. Last Launch: 2013-02-11. Number: 7 . Gross mass: 500 kg (1,100 lb).

Spectrum Astro was acquired by General Dynamics C4 Division in 2006. Spectrum Astro's SA-200 family of satellites were marketed in three variants:

• The SA-200B provided an affordable platform for data collecting space missions at LEO, MEO, HEO, and GEO orbits. The spacecraft combining proven high-capability space components with an open architecture designed for concurrent development and early interface and functional test.
• The SA-200HP was a scalable platform for missions ranging from remote-sensing operations requiring continuous "push broom" sensors in any low-earth orbit, to planetary missions demanding precision pointing and extended lifetimes. This platform provided a range of electric power and propulsion capabilities with provisions for complete redundancy, depending on mission need and cost constraints. The SA-200HP was sized to support payloads launched by Pegasus, Taurus, or Athena launch vehicles.
• The SA-200S was designed for missions with solar inertial, sun synchronous near-6am orbits, or missions that required duty-cycled, high-accuracy point tracking. It could be configured for a Pegasus, Athena, Delta, or Taurus launch. The bus provided a full capability monopropellant hydrazine RCS for orbit acquisition and precision control, and offered substantial pointing control and agility. Options for non-sun-synchronous orbits allowed payload operations for any sun orientation.

DS-1 Ukrainian technology satellite. Technology test version of the original DS light satellite design. Primary mission was to test launch vehicle. Technology Experiments, Asteroid & Comet Flyby Probe satellite built by Spectrum Astro for NASA, USA. Launched 1998. Used the SA-200HP bus.

MSTI American military strategic defense satellite. BMDO technology demonstration; Miniature Seeker Technology Demonstration. Research satellite built by Spectrum Astro for SDIO, USA. Launched 1992. Used the SA-200S bus.

HESSI American solar satellite. HESSI, the sixth Small Explorer, was a Spectrum Astro satellite derived from the SA-200S design. It carried a rotating modulation collimator transform telescope. Solar observatory satellite built by Spectrum Astro for NASA, USA. Launched 2002. Used the SA-200B (modified), spin stabilized bus.

Coriolis American earth sea satellite. Experimental satellite built by Spectrum Astro for USAF STP (Space Test Program), USA. Launched 2003. Used the SA-200HP bus.

Swift American gamma ray astronomy satellite. Swift was a first-of-its-kind multi-wavelength observatory dedicated to the study of gamma-ray burst (GRB) science. Astronomy, Gamma Rays satellite built by Spectrum Astro for NASA, USA. Launched 2004. Used the SA-200LL bus.

GLAST American gamma ray astronomy satellite. One launch, 2008.06.11, Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope. Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope; renamed Fermi GST after launch. Astronomy, Gamma rays satellite built by Spectrum Astro for NASA, USA. Launched 2008. Used the SA-200HP bus.

Photo Gallery

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GeoEye-1 Credit: Manufacturer Image

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NFIRE Credit: Manufacturer Image

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Nustar Credit: Manufacturer Image

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Landsat 8 Credit: Manufacturer Image

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• DS-2 s/n 1 - . Payload: DS-1. Mass: 300 kg (660 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: RVSN. Program: DS. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft Bus: SA-200. Spacecraft: DS-1. Failed first attempt to launch a DS-1 technology test version of the DS satellite atop a Cosmos 63S1 small launch vehicle. The boster didn't reach orbital velocity due to the failure of an acceleration integrator in the velocity regulation control..

• DS-1 s/n 1 - . Payload: DS-1. Mass: 300 kg (660 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: RVSN. Program: DS. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft Bus: SA-200. Spacecraft: DS-1.

  Second attempted launch of Cosmos 63S1 small launch vehicle 2LK with a DS-1 satgellite. This time the new second stage failed. The oxidiser was exhausted before orbital velocity could be reached due to uncontrolled pumping of liquid oxygen into the combustion chamber. The upper stage and satellite impacted in the Kurile Islands. An Expert Commission headed by Ustinov was convened to review the program.

• Kosmos scientific satellites authorised. - . Nation: Russia. Spacecraft Bus: SA-200. Spacecraft: DS-1. All-Russian Council of the National Economy (VSNKh) Decree 'Program for Space Investigations With Small Artificial Satellite, Launched on the Kosmos -- On course of work on small satellites at OKB-586' was issued..

• MSTI - . Payload: MSTI 1. Mass: 180 kg (390 lb). Nation: USA. Class: Military. Type: Strategic defense satellite. Spacecraft Bus: SA-200. Spacecraft: MSTI. Decay Date: 1993-07-18 . USAF Sat Cat: 22229 . COSPAR: 1992-078A. Apogee: 366 km (227 mi). Perigee: 289 km (179 mi). Inclination: 96.70 deg. Period: 91.10 min. BMDO technology demonstration; Miniature Seeker Technology Demonstration. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). .

• MSTI-2 - . Payload: MSTI 2. Mass: 163 kg (359 lb). Nation: USA. Class: Military. Type: Strategic defense satellite. Spacecraft Bus: SA-200. Spacecraft: MSTI. Decay Date: 1998-11-28 . USAF Sat Cat: 23101 . COSPAR: 1994-028A. Apogee: 433 km (269 mi). Perigee: 415 km (257 mi). Inclination: 93.10 deg. Period: 97.10 min. Last Scout launch; BMDO technology tests. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A). .

• MSTI-3 - . Payload: MSTI 3. Mass: 170 kg (370 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: BMDO. Class: Military. Type: Strategic defense satellite. Spacecraft Bus: SA-200. Spacecraft: MSTI. Decay Date: 1997-12-11 . USAF Sat Cat: 23868 . COSPAR: 1996-031A. Apogee: 432 km (268 mi). Perigee: 420 km (260 mi). Inclination: 97.10 deg. Period: 90.70 min. LEO. Sensor technology tests Air dropped in Point Arguello WADZ..

• Mightysat 2.1 - . Payload: SA-200B. Mass: 120 kg (260 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF STP. Manufacturer: Gilbert. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft: SA-200. Decay Date: 2002-11-12 . USAF Sat Cat: 26414 . COSPAR: 2000-042A. Apogee: 581 km (361 mi). Perigee: 547 km (340 mi). Inclination: 97.78 deg. Period: 95.86 min.

  Mightysat 2.1, also known as Sindri, used a Spectrum Astro SA-200B satellite bus. The spacecraft carried a hyperspectral imager for earth imaging and spectroscopy, as well as satellite technology experiments such as advanced solar arrays. An Aerospace Corp./DARPA picosatellite experiment, consisting of two small boxes connected by a deployable tether, was deployed later. Similar picosats were deployed on the previous Minotaur launch in January 2000.

• HESSI - . Payload: SA-200S. Mass: 449 kg (989 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Manufacturer: Gilbert. Class: Astronomy. Type: Solar satellite. Spacecraft Bus: SA-200. Spacecraft: HESSI. USAF Sat Cat: 27370 . COSPAR: 2002-004A. Apogee: 599 km (372 mi). Perigee: 574 km (356 mi). Inclination: 38.00 deg. Period: 96.40 min.

  HESSI, the sixth Small Explorer, carried a rotating modulation collimator transform telescope, imaging solar flares in the hard X-ray spectrum. The launch marked the return to flight of Pegasus after the Hyper-X failure. The launch was originally to have occurred on 28 March 2001. The L-1011 launch aircraft took off at 19:29 GMT from the Cape Canaveral Skid Strip RW30/12, and headed out to the drop area at 28.0 N 78.5 W over the Atlantic. Drop of the Pegasus in the Atlantic Drop Zone at 28.0 N 78.5 W was at 20:58 GMT, with ignition 5 seconds later. The Pegasus reached orbit at 21:07 GMT. On the first pass it was confirmed that the solar panels had opened.

  The satellite rotated at 15 rpm, imaging by reconstructing the Fourier components from the time modulation of the solar x-ray flux through a set of 9 grids each 9 cm in diameter. It was expected to make images with a resolution of 2 arcseconds at 40 keV energies and 36 arcseconds at 1 MeV energies. The launch delays meant that HESSI missed some of the best flares at solar max. Air dropped in Mayport DZ.

• Coriolis - . Payload: SA-200HP, P98-2. Mass: 828 kg (1,825 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Gilbert. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft Bus: SA-200. Spacecraft: Coriolis. USAF Sat Cat: 27640 . COSPAR: 2003-001A. Apogee: 936 km (582 mi). Perigee: 742 km (461 mi). Inclination: 98.74 deg. Period: 101.55 min.

  Coriolis was an Air Force Space Test Program three-year meteorological science mission to demonstrate the viability of using polarimetry to measure ocean surface wind speed and direction from space, and to demonstrate predictions of geomagnetic disturbances through continuous observation of Coronal Mass Ejections. Launch delayed from August 22, November 15, December 15, 16, 17 and 18, 2002 and January 5, 2003.

• Swift - . Payload: SA-200LL. Mass: 1,331 kg (2,934 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Manufacturer: Gilbert. Class: Astronomy. Type: Gamma ray astronomy satellite. Spacecraft Bus: SA-200. Spacecraft: Swift. USAF Sat Cat: 28485 . COSPAR: 2004-047A. Apogee: 604 km (375 mi). Perigee: 584 km (362 mi). Inclination: 20.60 deg. Period: 96.60 min. NASA Medium-class Explorer satellite dedicated to study of gamma ray bursts, the third after the IMAGE and WMAP satellites. Delayed from December 5 and 29, 2003, January 14, April 29, July 15, September 1, October 7 and 26, November 8, 11, 17, 18 and 19..

• USA 185 - . Payload: Streak STP-R1. Mass: 417 kg (919 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: DARPA. Manufacturer: C4. Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere satellite. Spacecraft Bus: SA-200. Spacecraft: Streak. Decay Date: 2006-06-28 . USAF Sat Cat: 28871 . COSPAR: 2005-037A. Apogee: 318 km (197 mi). Perigee: 295 km (183 mi). Inclination: 96.30 deg. Period: 90.70 min. Delayed from May, June, July, 2005. Classified research satellite, said to carry instruments to characterise the space environment in a sun-synchronous orbit..

• NFIRE - . Payload: SA-200B. Mass: 494 kg (1,089 lb). Nation: USA. Manufacturer: Gilbert. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: SA-200. Decay Date: 2015-11-04 . USAF Sat Cat: 31140 . COSPAR: 2007-014A. Apogee: 497 km (308 mi). Perigee: 489 km (303 mi). Inclination: 48.20 deg. Period: 94.50 min.

  Near Field Infrared Experiment conducted by the US Missile Defense Agency. Its Track Sensor Payload included visible and short, medium and long wave infrared sensors to observe missiles launched from the ground, and obtain basic data to distinguish between the missile and its hot rocket exhaust plume for application to anti-ballistic missile systems. Secondary payloads included Tesat, a German laser communications terminal, and its hydrazine propulsion system. This was used to maneuver the satellite from its initial 255 km x 465 km x 48.2 deg orbit to 489 km x 497 km by 18 May. The orbit was changed to 243 km x 487 km on 9 August and by 23 August was 219 km x 450 km. The satellite had a dry mass of 380 kg dry, was 2.7 m long and 1.3 m in diameter.

  The first major sensor test occurred when Minotaur II rocket TLV-7, was fired at 08:30 GMT on 23 August from Vandenberg in NFIRE Mission 2a. The Minotaur II was aimed to pass within 4 and 20 km of the NFIRE satellite while its third stage motor burning, to allow NFIRE to get a close look at the rocket and its exhaust. The Missile Defense Agency reported that the experiment was successful.

• Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope - . Payload: SA-200HP. Mass: 500 kg (1,100 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Martin. Class: Astronomy. Type: Gamma ray astronomy satellite. Spacecraft: SA-200. USAF Sat Cat: 33053 . COSPAR: 2008-029A. Apogee: 562 km (349 mi). Perigee: 542 km (336 mi). Inclination: 25.60 deg. Period: 95.70 min. Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope; renamed Fermi GST after launch..

• GeoEye-1 - . Mass: 1,923 kg (4,239 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Martin. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft: SA-200. USAF Sat Cat: 33331 . COSPAR: 2008-042A. Apogee: 687 km (426 mi). Perigee: 670 km (410 mi). Inclination: 98.10 deg. Period: 98.30 min. Commercial optical surveillance satellite with an 0.4-meter resolution. Primary customer was the US National Geospatial Intelligence Agency..

• USA 205 - . Payload: STSS-ATRR. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Martin. Class: Surveillance. Type: Orbital object tracking satellite. Spacecraft: SA-200. USAF Sat Cat: 34903 . COSPAR: 2009-023A. Space Tracking and Surveillance System Advanced Technology Risk Reduction satellite..

• Nustar - . Payload: Leostar. Mass: 360 kg (790 lb). Nation: USA. Class: Astronomy. Type: X-ray astronomy satellite. Spacecraft: SA-200. USAF Sat Cat: 38358 . COSPAR: 2012-031A. Apogee: 632 km (392 mi). Perigee: 614 km (381 mi). Inclination: 6.00 deg. Period: 97.20 min. Hard X-ray observatory with ten-meter mast. Air dropped in Kwajalein Drop Zone..

• Landsat 8 - . Payload: SA-200HP / LEOStar-3. Mass: 2,623 kg (5,782 lb). Nation: USA. Class: Earth. Type: Civilian Radarsat. Spacecraft: SA-200. USAF Sat Cat: 39084 . COSPAR: 2013-008A. Apogee: 704 km (437 mi). Perigee: 701 km (435 mi). Inclination: 98.21 deg. Period: 98.83 min. Carried the OLI (Operational Land Imager) and TIRS (Thermal Infrared Sensor) cameras to continue collection of comparable earth resource data that began with Landsat 1 in 1972. Total launch mass of 2787 kg included 395 kg of hydrazine propellant..