TacSat 3

Launch data: Designation  35001 / 09028A Launch date  19 May 2009 - 23:55 UT Launch site  WI, LA-0B Launch vehicle  Minotaur-1 Mission  Military: Reconnaissance LEO Earth orbit on May 20.04: Perigee / Apogee  432 x 468 km Eccentricity  2.64E-03 Inclination  40.46 deg Period  93.58 min

Description:

• TacSat 3 is a technology development satellite, launched for the USAF and manufactured by ATK Space Systems (previously Swales). Body of the satellite is cylindrical with three two-segment vanes of solar cells. Satellite is to support the Advanced Responsive Tactically Effective Military Imaging Spectrometer (ARTEMIS) sensor payload also being developed by AFRL. The main payload is a hyperspectral sensor and the satellite platform has a standardized avionics package whose development is being managed by the Air Force Research Laboratory. It features a Navy Secondary Data-X Payload for IP-Based Buoy Communications.
• Provide real-time data (within 10 minutes of its collection) to the combatant commander in the theater of interest.
• Along with the main payload, NASA's Pharmasat and three small 10-cm cubesats were deployed. The cubesats were CP6 for Cal Poly, HawkSat-1 for the Hawk Institute for Space Sciences, and Aerocube 3 for the Aerospace Corp.

Mission details:

• Tac-Sat-3 (JWS D-2) was finally launched May 19, 2009 . It had previously been planned for launch in summer 2007, the TacSat-3 satellite; the collaborative effort features an onboard processor that provides real-time data to the combatant commander in the theater. TacSat-3 is a team effort. Partners include the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate, Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center 's Space Development and Test Wing, the Department of Defense's operations response space (ORS) office, and the Office of Naval Research.