Encyclopedia entry

MAQSAT

Spacecraft · Europe

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

European technology satellite. MAQSATs were mass model and technology satellites built by Kayser-Threde, Munich, and lofted during the test flights of the Ariane 5. Vehicle evaluation payload built by Kayser-Threde for Arianespace, Europe. Launched 1997.

MAQSAT-H was a dummy communications satellite instrumented to report the actual payload bay environment during launch. It also included the TEAMSAT technology experiment payload, developed by ESTEC. TEAMSAT ejected a subsatellite, the Young Engineers Satellite, also with several experiments. MAQSAT-B was a smaller dummy satellite in the lower bay of the SPELTRA dual launch adapter. On a later launch Maqsat-3 was a similar dynamic model of Eutelsat W2, instrumented and within the SPELTRA adapter.

More at: MAQSAT.

Subtopics

MaqSat H and for TEAMSAT Vehicle evaluation payload built by Kayser-Threde for Arianespace, Europe. Launched 1997.
MaqSat 3 Vehicle evaluation payload built by Kayser-Threde for Arianespace, Europe. Launched 1998.
MaqSat B2 Vehicle evaluation payload built by Kayser-Threde for Arianespace, Europe. Launched 2005.
MaqSat H2 Vehicle evaluation payload built by Kayser-Threde for Arianespace.

Family: High earth orbit, Technology, Technology satellite
Country: Europe
Launch Vehicles: Ariane 5, Ariane 5G, Ariane 5ECA
Launch Sites: Kourou, Kourou ELA3
Agency: ESA, Kayser-Threde
Bibliography: 2, 4, 12788, 12789

Photo Gallery

MAQSAT-H/TEAMSAT
Credit: Manufacturer Image
Maqsat 3
Credit: Manufacturer Image
Maqsat-B2
Credit: Manufacturer Image
MaqSat H2
Credit: Manufacturer Image

Chronology

3 events

1997 October 30

Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Complex: Kourou ELA3. LV Family: Ariane 5. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5G.

MAQSAT-H/TEAMSAT - . Payload: MAQSAT-H. Nation: Europe. Agency: ESA. Manufacturer: Kayser-Threde. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: MAQSAT. USAF Sat Cat: 25023 . COSPAR: 1997-066A. Apogee: 26,504 km (16,468 mi). Perigee: 545 km (338 mi). Inclination: 7.60 deg. Period: 465.70 min. Dummy communications satellite instrumented to report the actual payload bay environment during launch. It included the TEAMSAT technology experiment payload, developed by ESTEC.

MAQSAT-B/EPS - . Payload: MAQSAT-B. Nation: Europe. Agency: ESA. Manufacturer: Kayser-Threde. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: MAQSAT. USAF Sat Cat: 25024 . COSPAR: 1997-066B. Apogee: 26,549 km (16,496 mi). Perigee: 541 km (336 mi). Inclination: 7.60 deg. Period: 466.40 min. Dummy satellite in the lower bay of the SPELTRA dual launch adapter..

1998 October 21

16:37 GMT - . Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Complex: Kourou ELA3. LV Family: Ariane 5. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5G.

Maqsat 3 - . Nation: France. Agency: ESA. Manufacturer: Kayser-Threde. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: MAQSAT. USAF Sat Cat: 25503 . COSPAR: 1998-059A. Apogee: 35,491 km (22,053 mi). Perigee: 1,017 km (631 mi). Inclination: 7.50 deg. Period: 641.20 min.
Maqsat 3 was an instrumentation package used to monitor performance of the Ariane 5 booster. At T+12:43 the Speltra adapter cover separated revealing Maqsat-3. At T+15:14 the EPS stage Aestus engine ignited and burned until T+31:00. At this point on a normal mission the satellite would separate from the EPS, but to avoid creating space debris Maqsat remained attached to the EPS. The EPS/Maqsat-3 was placed in a 1027 km x 35863 km x 7.0 degree geostationary transfer orbit.

2005 February 12

21:03 GMT - . Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Complex: Kourou ELA3. LV Family: Ariane 5. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5ECA.

Maqsat-B2 - . Mass: 3,622 kg (7,985 lb). Nation: Europe. Agency: ESA. Manufacturer: Kayser-Threde. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: Maqsat. Decay Date: 2012-12-03 . USAF Sat Cat: 28543 . COSPAR: 2005-005B. Apogee: 35,409 km (22,002 mi). Perigee: 258 km (160 mi). Inclination: 6.70 deg. Period: 624.90 min. Maqsat was a test payload built by Kayser-Threde to study the Ariane 5ECA launch environment. Remained attached to the upper stage..