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Launching on the Space Transportation System (Space Shuttle)

Space Shuttle (STS).

The U.S. Space Transportation System (STS) or Space Shuttle has a number of programmes available for the deployment of small payloads into space, namely the Get-Away-Special (GAS) and the Hitchhiker program described in detail by NASA on the Small Payloads Project Homepage. Small satellites can be launched into LEO, within the orbital constraints of the Shuttle. This is often a limiting factor for mission lifetime.

A Hitchiker cannister for the Starshine (1999) satellite is shown right.

The Simplesat Accommodation picture shows a cross-sectional view.

Launch history

Payloads launched from the space shuttle include

Mission	date	payload	orbit	comments
STS-51B		Bremsat
STS-52		Lageos-2
STS-	26 Oct 1985	GLOMR	326km, 57 deg
STS-95	30 Oct 1998	PANSAT	554x558km 28.5 deg
STS-88	13 Dec 1998	SAC-C	468km, 51.6deg
STS-88	14 Dec 1998	Mightysat-1	388x401km, 51.6 deg
STS-96	5 Jun 1999	STARSHINE	360km 51.6 deg
STS-105		Simplesat

Expected future launches

#	date	type	payload	orbit	comments

The Shuttle Small Payload Project page lists further information regarding upcoming and past missions.