[ Home ] [ Up ] [ AO-10 data ] [ Bremsat-I data ] [ SSHP - communications constellation data ] [ ESAT constellation data ] [ FAISAT data ] [ Globalstar data ] [ GONETS constellation data ] [ IRIS constellation data ] [ LEO1 data ] [ DARPA microsat data ] [ Orbcomm constellation ] [ SARA ] [ SIGNAL constellation ] [ Stella ] [ STEP ] [ STRV ] [ TUBSAT series ] [ VITA contellation data ]

The 22.7kg satellites were cylindrical in shape, 170mm high and 472mm in diameter. The spacecraft were spin stabilised about the cylindrical axis at about 3 rpm, with the spin axis parallel to the orbit normal. The required spin accuracy was 10% and the pointing accuracy was 5 degrees. An magnetic attitude control system from ITHACO was used, consisting of two torque rods, a two axis magnetometer and a horizon crossing indicator. A radial thruster, 6000psi (422 bar) cold gas N₂ propulsion system with 4 years of fuel was included to establish and maintain the constellation spacing, providing thrust in any direction within the orbit plane. The uplink and downlink were full duplex at UHF, with 41MHz spacing. The FM/FSK radio bandwidth was 30kHz.

References