STPSat-2

Spacecraft n°:

US spacecraft n°:

Launch data: Designation  37222/ 10062A Launch date  20 Nov 2010 - 01:25 UT Launch site  Kodiak, LP-1 Launch vehicle  Minotaur-4 HAPS Mission  Military: Technology Development Sun-Synchronous LEO Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  650 x 650 km Eccentricity  0,00E+00 Inclination  72 deg Period  97.73 min

Spacecraft data:

Mission details:

• Two top-priority investigations from the miltary's Space Experiment Review Board.
• STPSat-2 will be the first satellite operated by a new command and control system called the Multi-Mission Space Operations Center. This ground system is designed to fly multiple constellations of spacecraft with various missions.
• As part of the USAF Space Test Program, STP mission S26 was launched from Kodiak, Alaska on Nov 20 carrying a set of small payloads into orbit.
• The Minotaur's GCA (Guidance Control Assembly) fourth stage achieved a 637 x 661 km x 72 deg orbit using its Orion 38 solid motor. A HAPS (Hydrazine auxiliary propulsion system) fifth stage was mounted on it, with the primary payloads attached to a Multi Payload Adapter mounting plate on top of that.
• After deployment of the payloads, the HAPS separated from the GCA, made two rocket burns, and then released two ballast masses in a higher (circa 1200 km) orbit, demonstrating the capability of the Minotaur IV to deliver payloads to multiple orbits in a single mission.