Tethered Test Satellite, also called TSS 1R (Tethered
Satellite System)
Launch data:
Designation
23805
/ 96012B
Launch
date
22 Feb 1996
Launch site
KSC, LC-39B
Launch vehicle
Schuttle STS-75
Mission
Scientific
Earth orbit:
Operator
CNR/PSN/NASA
The TSS project is a joint NASA/ASI (Italian Space Agency) effort. The 1.6 m
diameter satellite is to be deployed on the end of a 20 kilometre long
conductive tether to study the electrodynamic effects of moving such a tether
through the Earth's magnetic field. The experiment will also test techniques
for managing the tethered spacecraft at great distances. Second flight of the
satellite which was worth about $200-400M (depending on whether or not you
count the cost for the original satellite, modifications after the first
flight, etc.)
The tether broke near full deployment (19 km) on 26 Feb at 01:30 UT. The
initial orbit for the satellite was 316 x 413 km; meanwhile the shuttle was at
291 x 299 km. The break was due to an electrical shortcut inside the cable.
End of life:
Decay
19
Mar 1996
Frequency downlink: 2260 MHz, uplink at 2081 MHz, 16 kbps data stream
Ref: #15 - update: 27.10.04