USS Langley

Spacecraft nº:

US spacecraft nº:

Launch data: Designation  40652 / 15025B Launch date  20 May 2015 - 15:05 UT Launch site  CC, SLC-40 Launch vehicle  Atlas V-501 Mission  Technology Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  350? x 700? km Eccentricity   Inclination  55? ° Period   min

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• USS Langley (Unix-Space-Server Langley) is a nanosatellite built by US Naval Academy. It has the missions to fly the Unix-Space-Server (USS) to demonstrate the ability to host a web server aboard a CubeSat.
• USS Langley is a proof-of-concept mission for providing global internet access via a nanosatellite constellation. The Unix Space Server (USS Langley) is a small satellite under development by a team of Midshipmen at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. USS is a low cost, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS), open source satellite that will act as a webserver and router in space using Internet Protocol (IP) and Linux (the open source Unix operating system). The idea of utilizing IP in space was originally developed at NASA; however, the project was cut in favor of custom protocols still used today since IP is impractical past LEO. Linux based computers have also been used in satellites before, but never as servers. USS will provide webserver access to a ground station in Annapolis and other ground stations with a three meter dish and an S-band transceiver. The webserver will be accessible to users who are connected to the internet when the satellite is in range of a ground station.

Mission details:

• On May 20, 2015 an Atlas V orbited an X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle into orbit.
• After releasing the X-37B, the Centaur AV-054 rocket stage reignited to reach a 355 x 700 km x 55-57 deg orbit and at around 17:00 UTC released a set of 10 cubesats. Centaur then made a third burn to deorbit itself over the Indian Ocean.
• The CubeSats are integrated into 8 P-POD deployers which are contained in the NPSCuL built by the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). The NPSCuL together with the 8 P-PODs and 10 CubeSats is referred to as the Unique Lightweight Technology and Research Auxiliary Satellite (ULTRASat), and is attached to the Centaur upper stage's Aft Bulkhead Carrier (ABC). next to the RL10 engine. The National Reconnaissance Office and NASA sponsored the ULTRASat launch.
• The USS Langley, a 3U cubesat from the US Naval Academy (UNSA) testing out an IP link to the satellite's computer which hosts a Unix webserver.

The assembled ULTRASat is shown in the photo, ready for mate to the launch vehicle along with members of the ULTRASat team consisting of NPS, Office of Space Launch (OSL), United Launch Alliance (ULA) and Cal Poly, SLO.