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Picosat

Spacecraft · USA

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

Picosat
Picosat
Credit: Manufacturer Image

American tether technology satellite. Picosat 7/Picosat 8 were ejected from the Mightysat II.1 satellite. The 0.25 kg satellites were connected by a 30 m tether and were deployed a year after launch. Experimental satellite built by SSTL for USAF STP (Space Test Program), USA. Launched 2001. Used the Microsat-70 bus.

More at: Picosat.

Country
USA
Launch Vehicles
Minuteman, Minotaur, Minotaur 1

Chronology

1 event

2001 September 7

19:39 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC8. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minotaur 1.
  • Picosat 7/8 - . Mass: 0 kg (0 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSPC. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft Bus: SSTL-70. Spacecraft: Picosat. Decay Date: 2002-07-11 . USAF Sat Cat: 26929 . COSPAR: 2000-042C. Apogee: 286 km (177 mi). Perigee: 266 km (165 mi). Inclination: 97.80 deg. Period: 90.00 min.

    Picosat 7/Picosat 8, were ejected from the Mightysat II.1 satellite on September 7 at 1939 UTC into a 511 x 539 km x 97.8 deg orbit. The 0.25 kg satellites were connected by a 30 m tether and were cataloged as a single object. Mightysat II.1 (Sindri) was launched in July 2000, and the deployment of the picosats was planned for a year after launch.