Simplesat

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). Associated Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.

• 2001 August 20 - Simplesat - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. 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.

• McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Report (Internet Newsletter), Harvard University, Weekly, 1989 to Present. Essential internet newsletter recording worldwide weekly space events. Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.

• National Space Science Center Planetary Page, As of 19 February 1999.. Accessed at: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/planetary_home.html.