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OXP-1 , 1993-009A.

OXP-1 is an experimental US spacecraft built by OSC (now ORBITAL), and launched by a Pegasus rocket together with SCD-1 from Kennedy Space Centre on the 9th February 1993 into a 722x787km orbit inclined at 24.97 degrees orbit (not 800km polar as reported in some sources). It carried an experimental payload to determine global VHF frequency utilization prior to the launch of the ORBCOMM constellation satellites. It measured user density, power levels and interference world-wide. OXP features integral solar panels and antennas, and a passive attitude control system using bar magnets, and weighed 13.6kg. A picture shows the spacecraft was similar in shape to DATACOM-X. The spacecraft has also been referred to as the CDS Pathfinder Experimental Mobile Communications Satellite.
Picture (right) courtesy of ORBITAL.

 

OXP-2 , 1993-026B?.

OXP-2  is an experimental US spacecraft built by OSC (now ORBITAL), and launched by a Pegasus rocket together with Alexis from Edwards AFB on the 25th April 1993, into an orbit close to 737 x 841 x 69.9. Although it appears on the OSC published list, it does not seem to appear in the Spacewarn bulletin which may imply it was never deployed. Nevertheless, the UN registration lists three non-functional objects on this launch (including the third stage). It is similar to OXP-1 and weighed 13.6kg.

RADCAL , 1993-41A, 22698.

RADCAL is a Radar Calibration Satellite built by Defence Systems Inc. for the USAF under the Small Test and Small Launch Vehicle (ST&SLV) program. It was launched on the 25th June 1993 on a Scout rocket from Vandenberg AFB into a 765 x 884 inclined orbit at 89.5 degrees. The satellite is hexagonal with 762mm diameter, has a mass of 87kg, and employs a gravity gradient boom, MHRD and magnetorquers and magnetometer. It was developed and launched in just 13 months. It provides space-based radar cross-sectional area calibration for more than 70 radars operating in the C-band, and carries two GPS receivers with the aim to demonstrate GPS based attitude determination. In addition, it carries a peak power tracker, and a UHF Store and Forward payload, with a 400.033MHz and 150.013Mhz downlinks. The design mission life time was three years. The satellite was controlled from SMC, CA via a low cost PC-based ground station of which 24 were built and operated. Since November 1996 it is controlled from Kirtland AFB, NM. Total mission cost is estimated to have been US$16.6m in FY95.
Picture (right) courtesy of CTA.

 

TemiSAT , 1993-055B.

Launched on the 30th of August 1993 on a Tsyklon launcher from Plesetsk, into a 950km 82.5 degree inclined orbit. The Italian micro-satellite, was released from METsEOR 2-21 at 16:22 UT into a 980x945, 82.5 degree inclined orbit. It was procured by Telespazio SpA Rome Italy. The integration, tests and launch support was by Kayser-Threde GmbH, Munich Germany. It offers data collection and distribution for autonomous networks and environmental monitoring, and carries relaying instruments to uplink and downlink weather data from the Mediterranean and adjacent areas obtained by about 50 ground stations. Its Store and Forward transponder with 2 x 8.5MByte capacity. The satellite is cubic shaped by 350 x 350 x 350mm and weighs 42kg. It generates 65W maximum power, and is spin stabilised employing 2 magnetic coils
Picture (right) courtesy of Telespazio SpA.

 

STELLA, 1993-061B.

The French 48kg passive reflector was launched alongside SPOT-3 by an Ariane rocket V59 from Kourou, French Guiana on the 26th September 1993 at 01:45 UT, along with six other microsatellites, and is tracked to measure small perturbations in the Earth's gravitational field. It is a dense sphere of uranium alloy with 60 laser reflectors on its surface. Reflected laser beams enable accurate geodetic measurements for the determination, with an accuracy of 1 cm, of the geoid, of oceanic and terrestrial tides, and of tectonic movements. It joins its still operational twin, STARLETTE, that was launched in 1975. Initial orbital parameters are period 826x802 km, and an inclination of 98.6 deg.

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Picture (right) courtesy of CNES

 

KitSat-2 (KO-25, OSCAR 25), 1993-061C.

KITSAT-2 is a South Korean experimental microsatellite based on the SSTL UoSAT bus, launched along with SPOT 3 on the Ariane ASAP V59 from Kourou, French Guiana on the 26th September 1993 at 01:45:00 UT, along with six other microsatellites. Its mission is very similar to KITSAT-1 and POSAT 1. It was launched into an 823x800 km, 98.6 deg inclined orbit. The 48.7kg microsatellite is box shaped with dimensions 350x350x650mm, with four body mounted solar panels on the larger facets. The 4 MIPS Kascom computer employs an INTEL 80960MC running at 7.86528MHz, on 1.5W average power. It carries 10MBytes of EDAC protected RAM, and uses the custom Byul-Ji-Gi operating system. The ADCS system comprises two three-axis magnetometers, a two axis horizon sensor, two sun-sensors, magnetorquers and a 6m gravity gradient boom. The imaging system comprises a 578x576 pixel array CCD with a resolution of 200m per pixel, and a colour 511x492 pixel camera with 2km resolution
More detail at: [SATREC] [SSTL] [AMSAT]
Picture (right) courtesy of KAIST

PoSat-1 (PO-28), 1993-061D.

PoSAT-1 is an experimental, technology demonstrations and scientific microsatellite based on the UoSAT-bus, procured by a consortium of Portuguese companies from SSTL. A Portuguese home page exists at the Instituto Superior Técnico. PoSAT-1 was launched along with SPOT 3 on the Ariane V59 ASAP from Kourou, French Guiana on the 26th September 1993 at 01:45:00 GMT, along with six other microsatellites, into an 822x800 km, with 98.6 deg inclination. It is an Earth Observation satellite and carries a wide and narrow angle CCD cameras with resolution of 200m/pixel. The SSTL picture gallery features weekly images mostly from PoSAT, and a sample image of the San Francisco bay area is here.  It determines its own position with the help of the GPS system, and also carries an experimental communications digital signal processor (DSP). The test audio file (from AO-21) for the in-orbit functional checkout of the DSP can be heard below.

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The 49.3kg microsatellite is box shaped with dimensions 350x350x650mm, with four solar panels on the larger facets, and a 6m gravity gradient boom. The spacecraft initially transmitted in the amateur bands, before being switched to commercial bands. It was employed by Volunteers In Technical Assistance from 1997 [press release], and is still actively used in 1998 by the Portuguese army and navy for email, and communications between Brazil and its Antarctic base. It was also used by the SFOR/IFOR troups in Bosnia and Angola.
More detail at: [SSTL][PoSAT at INETI][ Instituto Superior Técnico]
Picture (right) courtesy of SSTL

 

HealthSat-2, 1993-061E

The HealthSat-2 microsatellite based on the UoSAT bus, procured by Satellife from SSTL, and was launched alongside SPOT 3 on the Ariane V59 ASAP from Kourou, French Guiana on the 26th September 1993 at 01:45 UT, along with six other microsatellites. It relays medical emergency information from Africa to hospitals and health documentation centres. The orbit is 821x797 km, with an inclination of 98.6 deg. The 43.8kg microsatellite is box shaped (picture) with dimensions 350x350x650mm, with four solar panels on the larger facets, and a 6m gravity gradient boom.
More detail at: [SSTL] [Satellife]
Picture courtesy of SSTL.

 

ItamSat (IO-26, OSCAR-26), 1993-061F

ITAMSAT is an Italian amateur microsatellite based on the amateur microsat series. It was launched alongside SPOT 3 on the Ariane V59 ASAP from Kourou, French Guiana on the 26th September 1993 at 01:45 UT, along with six other microsatellites. It provides amateur digital store and forward radio communications. The orbital is 823x799 km, with an inclination of 98.6 deg. The 11.2kg microsatellite is box shaped with dimensions 150x150x150mm, with four solar panels. Uplink frequencies are at 145.875, 145.900, 145.925, and 145.950MHz FM at 1200 Baud.  The downlink frequency is at 435.822 MHz SSB
More detail at: [ItamSat Home Page] [AMSAT]
Picture courtesy of SSTL.

 

EyeSat (AMRAD AO-27), 1993-061G.

Launched along with SPOT 3 on the Ariane V59 ASAP from Kourou, French Guiana on the 26th September 1993 at 01:45 UT, along with six other microsatellites. It is built by Interferometrics Inc. of the U.S. It caries a digital store and Forward transponder to relay environmental data from ground-based stations and certain industrial facilities. It also operates in the amateur radio service It was launched into a 823x794 km, 98.5 degree inclined orbit. The 11.8kg microsatellite is box shaped with dimensions 150x150x150mm (picture), with four solar panels.
More detail at: [AMSAT][AO-27 home page]
Picture courtesy of SSTL.