Space Technology 5

Space Technology 5
Artist's rendering of the "string of pearls" satellite constellation
OperatorNASA / GSFC
COSPAR ID2006-008A through 2006-008C
SATCAT no.28980 through 28982
Websitenmp.jpl.nasa.gov/st5
Mission duration18 years, 7 months and 20 days
(in orbit)
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerUCLA
Kennedy Space Center
New Mexico State University Physical Science Laboratory
Launch mass25 kilograms (55 lb)
Power≈20–25 W @ 9–10 V
End of mission
DeactivatedJune 30, 2006 (2006-06-30)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeSun synchronous
Eccentricity0.239
Perigee altitude300 km (190 mi)
Apogee altitude4,500 km (2,800 mi)[1]
Inclination105.6°
Transponders
BandX-Band
Bandwidth1 Kbps / 1 or 100 Kbps

Space Technology 5 (ST5) of the NASA New Millennium program was a test of ten new technologies aboard a group of microsatellites. Developed by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, the three individual small spacecraft were launched together from the belly of a Lockheed L-1011 aboard the Pegasus XL rocket, on 22 March 2006. One technology involved antennas that were designed by computers using an evolutionary AI system developed at NASA Ames Research Center.[2] The ST5 on-board flight computer, the C&DH (Command & Data Handling) system, was based on a Mongoose-V radiation-hardened microprocessor.

On 30 June 2006 the satellites making up ST5 were shut down after successfully completing their technology validation mission.[3]

  1. ^ "ST5 Quick Facts". nmp.jpl.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on 2006-01-18.
  2. ^ "Evolutionary Design of an X-Band Antenna for NASA's Space Technology 5 Mission" (PDF). ti.arc.nasa.gov. NASA. 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-18.
  3. ^ "ST5 Mission". nasa.gov. NASA. December 20, 2007.