USA-221
Encyclopedia
USA-221, also known as FalconSat-5, is an American
military minisatellite
, which was launched in 2010. The fifth FalconSat
spacecraft to be launched, it carries four technology development and ionospheric
research experiments. The satellite was constructed and is operated by the United States Air Force Academy
.
with an apogee
of 652 kilometres (405.1 mi), a perigee
of 641 kilometres (398.3 mi), and 72 degrees of orbital inclination.
The Space Plasma Characterization Source (SPCS) studies how a cold gas ammonia thruster and a Hall effect thruster
behave in space, and how they affect the spacecraft's surroundings. Meanwhile, the Wafer-Integrated Spectrometer, WISPERS, will observe the plume generated by the Hall thruster, allowing a comparison to be made to theoretical data. The other two experiments will study the Earth's ionosphere. SmartMESA, the Smart Miniaturized Electrostatic Analyzer, was designed to record the ion density of the ionosphere, as well as the temperature, to allow a study of how temperature affects ion density. It is a reflight of the original SmartMESA mission, which was lost when FalconSat-2
failed to achieve orbit. The Receiver UHF/VHF Signal Strength or RUSS, experiment, is intended to recieve radio signals in the UHF and VHF bands, to determine the levels and effects of ionospheric interference.
SmartMESA, also known as the Integrated Miniaturized ElectroStatic Analyzer, or iMESA, amd WISPERS were respectively ranked as the 26th and , and 31st most important experiments for DoD satellites in 2006, by the US Space Experiments Review Board.
, using a Minotaur IV
carrier rocket with a HAPS
upper stage; however USA-221 was deployed prior to ignition of the HAPS stage. The Minotaur was launched at 01:25:00 UTC on 20 November 2010, with FalconSat-5 separating into its low Earth orbit just over 25 minutes later.
The launch also carried STPSat-2, FASTSAT and NanoSail-D2
, FASTRAC
, O/OREOS
, and RAX
. Collectively, the deployment mission was designated STP-S26, and marked the third flight of the Minotaur IV.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military minisatellite
Minisatellite
A minisatellite is a section of DNA that consists of a short series of bases 10-60 bp. These occur at more than 1,000 locations in the human genome...
, which was launched in 2010. The fifth FalconSat
FalconSAT
FalconSAT is the name of the United States Air Force Academy's small satellite engineering program. Satellites are designed, built, tested, and operated by Academy cadets. The project is administered by the USAFA Space Systems Research Center under the direction of the Department of Astronautics...
spacecraft to be launched, it carries four technology development and ionospheric
Ionosphere
The ionosphere is a part of the upper atmosphere, comprising portions of the mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere, distinguished because it is ionized by solar radiation. It plays an important part in atmospheric electricity and forms the inner edge of the magnetosphere...
research experiments. The satellite was constructed and is operated by the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
.
Spacecraft
USA-221 is a 180 kilograms (396.8 lb) spacecraft, measuring 70 centimetres (27.6 in) by 64 centimetres (25.2 in) by 54 centimetres (21.3 in). It operates in a low Earth orbitLow Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
with an apogee
Apsis
An apsis , plural apsides , is the point of greatest or least distance of a body from one of the foci of its elliptical orbit. In modern celestial mechanics this focus is also the center of attraction, which is usually the center of mass of the system...
of 652 kilometres (405.1 mi), a perigee
Apsis
An apsis , plural apsides , is the point of greatest or least distance of a body from one of the foci of its elliptical orbit. In modern celestial mechanics this focus is also the center of attraction, which is usually the center of mass of the system...
of 641 kilometres (398.3 mi), and 72 degrees of orbital inclination.
The Space Plasma Characterization Source (SPCS) studies how a cold gas ammonia thruster and a Hall effect thruster
Hall effect thruster
In spacecraft propulsion, a Hall thruster is a type of ion thruster in which the propellant is accelerated by an electric field. Hall thrusters trap electrons in a magnetic field and then use the electrons to ionize propellant, efficiently accelerate the ions to produce thrust, and neutralize the...
behave in space, and how they affect the spacecraft's surroundings. Meanwhile, the Wafer-Integrated Spectrometer, WISPERS, will observe the plume generated by the Hall thruster, allowing a comparison to be made to theoretical data. The other two experiments will study the Earth's ionosphere. SmartMESA, the Smart Miniaturized Electrostatic Analyzer, was designed to record the ion density of the ionosphere, as well as the temperature, to allow a study of how temperature affects ion density. It is a reflight of the original SmartMESA mission, which was lost when FalconSat-2
FalconSAT-2
FalconSAT-2 was a satellite built by students of the United States Air Force Academy as part of the FalconSAT programme. It was intended to have been placed into low Earth orbit to study the effects of plasma on communications with spacecraft, however it failed to reach orbit due to a malfunction...
failed to achieve orbit. The Receiver UHF/VHF Signal Strength or RUSS, experiment, is intended to recieve radio signals in the UHF and VHF bands, to determine the levels and effects of ionospheric interference.
SmartMESA, also known as the Integrated Miniaturized ElectroStatic Analyzer, or iMESA, amd WISPERS were respectively ranked as the 26th and , and 31st most important experiments for DoD satellites in 2006, by the US Space Experiments Review Board.
Launch
USA-221 was launched from Pad 1 of the Kodiak Launch ComplexKodiak Launch Complex
The Kodiak Launch Complex is a commercial rocket launch facility for sub-orbital and orbital space launch vehiclesowned and operated by the Alaska Aerospace Corporation, a public corporation of the State of Alaska....
, using a Minotaur IV
Minotaur IV
Minotaur IV, also known as Peacekeeper SLV and OSP-2 PK is an active expendable launch system derived from the Peacekeeper missile. It is operated by Orbital Sciences Corporation, and made its maiden flight on 22 April 2010, carrying the HTV-2a Hypersonic Test Vehicle...
carrier rocket with a HAPS
Haps
Haps is a village in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It is located in the municipality of Cuijk, about 5 km south of the town of Cuijk.Haps was a separate municipality until 1994, when it became a part of Cuijk....
upper stage; however USA-221 was deployed prior to ignition of the HAPS stage. The Minotaur was launched at 01:25:00 UTC on 20 November 2010, with FalconSat-5 separating into its low Earth orbit just over 25 minutes later.
The launch also carried STPSat-2, FASTSAT and NanoSail-D2
NanoSail-D2
NanoSail-D2 is a small satellite built by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and Ames Research Center to study the deployment of a solar sail in space. It is a three-unit CubeSat measuring 30 by 10 by 10 centimeters , with a mass of...
, FASTRAC
Fastrac
Fastrac may refer to* JCB Fastrac, tractor by J. C. Bamford* Fastrac rocket engine, NASA's project* Fastrac, VTLS software* Formation Autonomy Spacecraft with Thrust, Relnav, Attitude, and Crosslink, A University of Texas satellite...
, O/OREOS
O/OREOS
The O/OREOS nanosatellite is a automated laboratory approximately the size of a loaf of bread that contains two separate experiments on board...
, and RAX
RAX
Radio Aurora Explorer is the first National Science Foundation sponsored CubeSat mission . The RAX mission is a joint effort between in Menlo Park, California and the in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The chief scientist, Dr. Hasan Bahcivan, led his team at SRI to develop the payload while the chief...
. Collectively, the deployment mission was designated STP-S26, and marked the third flight of the Minotaur IV.