BLITS

Spacecraft nº:

Russia spacecraft nº:

Launch data: Designation  35871 / 09049G Launch date  17 Sep 2009 - 15:55 UT Launch site  B, LC-31/6 Launch vehicle  Soyuz-2-1b / Fregat Mission  Geodesy, Technology experiments Sun-synchronous Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  832 km Eccentricity   Inclination  98.77 deg Period  101.3 min

Spacecraft data: Prime contractor  NII Pretsizionnogo Priborostroeniya (NIIPP) Platform   Operator   Mass at launch  7.53 kg Dry Mass   kg Basic shape  Spherical Dimension (m)  85.16 mm radius Reflectors  1 spherical retroreflector Stabilization   DC power   Design lifetime  5 yrs

Credit: IPIE

Description:

• The BLITS (Ball Lens In The Space) retroreflector satellite has been developed and manufactured by the FSUE IPIE in accordance with the Federal Space Program of Russia and Agreement between the Federal Space Agency of Russia and International Laser Ranging Service from January 10, 2006. The purpose of the mission is experimental verification of the spherical glass retroreflector satellite concept as well as obtaining SLR data for solution of scientific problems in geophysics, geodynamics, and relativity by millimeter and submillimeter accuracy SLR measurements. The "target error" (uncertainty of reflection center relative to the CoM position) is less than 0.1mm, and the Earth magnetic field does not affect the satellite orbit and spin parameters. SLR is the only source of POD information.
• The BLITS nanosatellite consists of two outer hemispheres made of a low-refraction-index glass and an inner ball lens made of a high-refraction-index glass (??105 type). The ball lens radius is 53.52 mm, the total radius of the spherical retroreflector is 85.16 mm. The hemispheres are glued over the ball lens; the external surface of one hemisphere is covered with an aluminum coating protected by a varnish layer. All spherical surfaces are concentric. The satellite total mass is 7.53 kg. A small spherical retroreflector of the same type (6cm in diameter) was fastened to the Meteor-3M spacecraft and tested during its space flight (2001-2006).

Mission details:

• The Soyuz-2-1b third stage reached a 185 x 198 km x 98.8 deg orbit at 1604 UTC. The Fregat stage separated and made two burns at around 1606 and 1652 UTC to an 814 x 820 km orbit, where it deployed the 2755 kg Meteor-M and the small 7 kg Blits satellite at 1653 UTC. Blits, built by NII Pretsizionnogo Priborostroeniya (NIIPP) of Moscow, is a spherical glass lens to be used for laser geodesy.

External links:

• EOportal.org Satellite description