SNAP 1

Spacecraft nº:

UK spacecraft nº: 30

Launch data: Designation 26386 / 00033C Launch date 28 Jun 2000 - 10:37:42 UT Launch site Pl, LC132/1 Launch vehicle Cosmos-3M (11K65M) Mission Technology Sun-synchronous Earth orbit on Jun 28, 2000 (.64): Perigee / Apogee  684 x 707 km Eccentricity  0.002 Inclination  98.13 deg Period  98.67 min

The SNAP-1 nanosatellite. Photo: SSTL

Specifications Prime contractor SSTL Platform   Operator  SSTL Mass at launch 6.5 kg Mass in orbit   Basic shape  Drum Dimension  0.33 dia, 0.33 high Solar array   Stabilization   DC power   Design lifetime

Tsinghua-1 and SNAP-1 spacecraft in a launch site clean room. Photo: SSTL

Description:

Mission details:

• Liftoff occurred on schedule at 1037 GMT (6:37 a.m. EDT) from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in far northern Russia. The spacecraft were later deployed into a 400-mile high (650 km) sun-synchronous orbit
• The other two satellite passengers carried by the Cosmos rocket, SNAP-1 and Tsinghua-1, have different purposes but should remain close to each other even after arriving in space. Both were built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. of the United Kingdom.
• The first Surrey Nanosatellite Applications Platform, or SNAP-1, is a 6.5 kg spacecraft with advanced GPS navigation, computing, propulsion and attitude control technologies. Its primary mission is to rendezvous with Tsinghua-1 satellite, demonstrating orbital formation flying for the first time.
• SNAP-1 will also feature state-of-the-art navigation systems, a new attitude control system and cutting edge cameras capable of imaging other satellites.
• SNAP-1 will link up with Tsinghua-1 to test its new propulsion and imaging systems.
• Ground controllers at TsingHua University reported they received telemetry from Tsinghua-1 about seven hours after launch and all looked normal. Surrey's mission control made contact with SNAP-1 at 0140 GMT on Thursday.