TacSat-2

TacSat-2
Artist's rendering of TacSat-2 imaging satellite
NamesJWS-D1
RoadRunner
Mission typeTechnology, Communications
OperatorAir Force Research Laboratory
COSPAR ID2006-058A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.29653
Mission duration1 year (planned)
4 years (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftTacSat 2
BusRoad Runner Bus (NGMB, Next Generation Multifunctional Bus)
ManufacturerMicroSat Systems Inc. (MSI) (bus)
Launch mass370 kg (820 lb)
Power500 watts
Start of mission
Launch date16 December 2006, 12:00:00 UTC
RocketMinotaur I # 6
Launch siteMARS, Wallops Island, LP-0B
ContractorOrbital Sciences Corporation
End of mission
Decay date5 February 2011
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit[1]
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Perigee altitude413 km (257 mi)
Apogee altitude424 km (263 mi)
Inclination40.00°
Period92.90 minutes

TacSat-2 is the first in a series of U.S. military experimental technology and communication satellites.TacSat-2 (also known as JWS-D1 ((Joint Warfighting Space-Demonstrator 1) or RoadRunner)[2] was an experimental satellite built by the USAF's Air Force Research Laboratory with an operational life expected to be not more than one year as part of the "Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration" program.

  1. ^ "Trajectory: TacSat 2 2006-058A". NASA. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "Key Elements of Rapid Integration and Test" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007.