TSX 5

USA

TSX 5= Tri-Service Experiment
Also called: Step 5 and P95-2

Launch data:

Designation26374 / 00030A
Launch date07 Jun 2000 - 13:19:30 UT
Launch siteVa, L-1011, RW20/22
Launch vehiclePegasus-XL (#29)
MissionMilitary: ?
Earth orbit on Jun 7.60, 2000:
Perigee / Apogee 404 x 1704 km
Eccentricity 0.087
Inclination 68.95 deg
Period 106.28 min

Specifications

Prime contractor TRW
Platform STEP
Mass at launch 250 kg (176 kg?)
Mass in orbit  
Basic shape  12-sided drum
Dimension 2.08 long, 0.97 dia
Solar array  
Stabilization  
DC power  
Design lifetime  

Will carry 2 experimental payloads with 6-month lifetimes (with a 1 year goal): Space Technology Research Vehicle-2 (STRV-2) and Compact Environmental Anomaly Sensor (CEASE).

STRV 2 is the first satellite to ground experiment capable of gigabit throughput via a laser. The experiment was built by AstroTerra Corporation. It is sponsored by the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization in collaboration with the UK Ministry of Defense's DERA organization at Farnborough. It is a followup of the STRV program. The mission will be controlled from Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.

CEASE (also called S97-1) was developped by AFRL (USAF Reseach Lab). It is a prototype sensor package to provide warning of spacecraft charging and radiation events.

Ref: #7, #15, #206 - update: 10.07.11