Simplesat
Spacecraft · USA
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
American visible astronomy satellite. Simplesat was intended to test methods for building cheap astronomical satellites and controlling them from a inexpensive ground stations. Astronomy, technology satellite for NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, USA. Launched 2001.
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.
More at: Simplesat.
Related
- Country
- USA
- Launch Vehicles
- Space Shuttle
- Launch Sites
- Cape Canaveral, Cape Canaveral LC39A
- Agency
- NASA Greenbelt
Photo Gallery
Simplesat
Credit: Manufacturer Image
Chronology
1 event
2001 August 20
18:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.- Simplesat - . Mass: 52 kg (114 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Class: Astronomy. Type: X-ray astronomy satellite. Spacecraft: Simplesat. Decay Date: 2002-01-30 . USAF Sat Cat: 26889 . COSPAR: 2001-035B. Apogee: 135 km (83 mi). Perigee: 130 km (80 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. .