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GEOStar-1

Spacecraft

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

?National Security satellite bus for use in ?GEO orbit and launch by ?Minotaur V, or Antares. Lifetime ?5-7 years and delivery possible ?27-30 months after receipt of order. Electrical system solar cells, average power 1.5kW

More at: GEOStar-1.

Subtopics

  • Mitex American military anti-satellite system. 3 launched, 2006.06.21 (USA 187) to (USA 189). Technology satellite built by Orbital Sciences Corp. (OSC) for DARPA, USA. Launched 2006. Used the Aquila-Bus bus.
  • MITEx B Technology satellite built by Lockheed Martin for DARPA, USA. Launched 2006.
  • GSSAP Designed to catalog satellites and space debris in geostationary orbit. Built by Orbital for US Air Force Space Command. Orbit and mass classified; figures shown are speculative. Space surveillance satellite built by Orbital Sciences Corp. (OSC) for US Air Force, USA. Launched 2014 - 2016. Used the GeoStar-1 bus.

Related

Bibliography
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Chronology

3 events

2006 June 21

22:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17A. Launch Pad: SLC17A. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Delta 7925-9.5.
  • USA 187 - . Payload: MiTEx-A. Mass: 225 kg (496 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: DARPA. Manufacturer: OSC. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft Bus: GEOStar-1. Spacecraft: Mitex. USAF Sat Cat: 29240 . COSPAR: 2006-024A. Apogee: 36,222 km (22,507 mi). Perigee: 184 km (114 mi). Inclination: 25.25 deg. Period: 639.26 min.

    The Microsatellite Technology Experiment was a classified mission, believed to be a test of prototype inspect-and-disable satellites that would control the constellation of geostationary satellites on which the world depends for television reception and communications. Each microsatellite, one built by Orbital Sciences, and the other by Lockheed Martin, had a mass of about 250 kg. They were believed to be solar-powered and equipped with propulsion systems that would allow them to rendezvous with geosynchronous satellites. Once they had reached the satellite, they would presumably be capable of destroying, disabling, or jamming them. To deliver the two satellites to near-synchronous orbit, a Naval Research Laboratory liquid propellant bus equipped with a 400 N main engine and solar panels was used.

  • USA 188 - . Payload: MiTEx-B. Mass: 225 kg (496 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: DARPA. Manufacturer: Lockheed. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft Bus: GEOStar-1. Spacecraft: Mitex. USAF Sat Cat: 29241 . COSPAR: 2006-024B.
  • USA 189 - . Payload: MiTEx Vehicle. Mass: 250 kg (550 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft Bus: GEOStar-1. Spacecraft: Mitex. USAF Sat Cat: 29242 . COSPAR: 2006-024C.

2014 July 28

23:28 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC37B. Launch Pad: SLC37B. LV Family: Delta IV. Launch Vehicle: Delta 4M+(4,2).
  • USA 253 - . Payload: GSSAP-1. Mass: 2,500 kg (5,500 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: ULAB. Spacecraft Bus: GeoStar-1. Spacecraft: GSSAP. USAF Sat Cat: 40099 . COSPAR: 2014-043A. Apogee: 35,500 km (22,000 mi). Perigee: 35,500 km (22,000 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Designed to catalog satellites and space debris in geostationary orbit. Built by Orbital for US Air Force Space Command. Orbit and mass classified; figures shown are speculative..
  • USA 254 - . Payload: GSSAP-2. Mass: 2,500 kg (5,500 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: ULAB. Spacecraft Bus: GeoStar-1. Spacecraft: GSSAP. USAF Sat Cat: 40100 . COSPAR: 2014-043B. Apogee: 35,500 km (22,000 mi). Perigee: 35,500 km (22,000 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Designed to catalog satellites and space debris in geostationary orbit. Built by Orbital for US Air Force Space Command. Orbit and mass classified; figures shown are speculative..

2016 August 19

04:52 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC37B. Launch Pad: Cape Canaveral SLC37B. LV Family: Delta IV. Launch Vehicle: Delta 4M+(4,2).
  • USA 270 - . Payload: GSSAP 3. Nation: USA. Class: Surveillance. Type: Orbital object tracking satellite. Spacecraft Bus: GeoStar-1. Spacecraft: GSSAP. USAF Sat Cat: 41744 . COSPAR: 2016-052A. Apogee: 35,819 km (22,256 mi). Perigee: 35,749 km (22,213 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Placed in geosynchronous orbit at 111 deg W. The satellites will drift in the geostationary ring making observations of the orbits of other satellites..
  • USA 271 - . Payload: GSSAP 4. Nation: USA. Class: Surveillance. Type: Orbital object tracking satellite. Spacecraft Bus: GeoStar-1. Spacecraft: GSSAP. USAF Sat Cat: 41745 . COSPAR: 2016-052B. Apogee: 35,856 km (22,279 mi). Perigee: 35,814 km (22,253 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Placed in geosynchronous orbit at 118 deg W..