SWAS

USA

Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite - Also called Explorer 74 or SMEX 3

Launch data:

Designation	25560 / 98071A
Launch date	05 Dec 1998
Launch site	Va, L-1011, RW30/12
Launch vehicle	Pegasus-XL (#25)
Mission	Scientific: Astronomy
Earth orbit:
Perigee/Apogee	600/650 km
Inclination	70°
Period

The SWAS mission is an outgrowth of the scientific interest in the exploration of the submillimeter wavelength region for astronomy. SWAS will be a pioneering step in submillimeter astronomy in space. The SWAS mission is designed to study molecular clouds in the galactic plane, providing a mini and full survey of the clouds, leading towards the development of maps. It will also perform quick-look chemistry on the structure and content of these molecular clouds, and will research extragalactic sources.

Specifications

Prime contractor
Platform
Mass at launch	288 kg
Payload mass	102 kg
Dimension
Solar array
Stabilization	3-axis
DC power	230 W
Design lifetime	2 years

Telemetry: 2215 MHz (realtime: 18.75 kbps, playback: 1.8 Mbps), 5 W transmitter
Command: 2039.65 MHz (2 kbps)

The instrument consists of an off-axis Cassegrain telescope, receiver, Acousto-Optical Spectrometer (AOS), instrument control electronics (ICE) and a thermal control subsystem.

The satellite has a 0.6m telescope with a 490 to 550 GHz submillimeter receiver and an acousto-optical spectrometer.

Ref: #15, #27 - update: 15.07.04