Falconsat 3

USA

Spacecraft n°:

USA satellite n°:

Launch data:

Designation	30776 / 07006E
Launch date	09 Mar 2007 - 03:10 UT
Launch site	CC, SLC-41
Launch vehicle	Atlas-5(401) (AV-013 / #9)
Mission	Civil/Military: Technology Development
LEO Earth orbit on Mar 9.26:
Perigee / Apogee	554 x 564 km
Eccentricity	6,49E-04
Inclination	35.44°
Period	95.82 min

Will monitor the ambient plasma, and test a micropropulsion attitude control system. Has communication problems, first contact could be established on 23 Mar 2007.

Spacecraft data:

Prime contractor	US Air Force Academy
Platform
Operator	US Air Force Academy
Mass at launch	54 kg
Dry Mass	kg
Basic shape	Cube + gravity boom
Dimension (m)	0.433 x 0.433 x 0.787 3.78 long
Solar array
Stabilization
DC power
Design lifetime	Still active

Falconsat 3 is a USAF Academy student satellite with ionospheric experiments and plasma atttiude control thrusters.

Equipment:

Micro Propulsion Attitude Control Systems (MPACS)

=> pulsed plasma thrusters that are the cutting edge of rocket research developed by AFRL/PR;

Flat Plasma Spectrometer (FLAPS)

=> developed by NASA/GSFC & USAFA to flight demonstrate a new-generation of MEMS-based sensors and collect detailed measurements of the space plasma;

Plasma Local Anomalous Noise Environment (PLANE)

=>developed by USAFA to investigate the localized plasma environment around a spacecraft.

In addition, FalconSAT 3 will carry a shock ring vibration suppression device developed by AFRL/VS and a shape-memory composite actuated gravity gradient boom also developed by AFRL/VS.

Mission details:

Air Force Academy’s first attempt at achieving three axis attitude determination and control (ADCS). FalconSAT-3 will carry three payloads to conduct DoD research. When primary mission completed amateur radio payload will be activated.

Ref.: #7(JR578), #78a, #206, #226 - update: 02.11.10