.png) Artist's rendering of TacSat-3 imaging satellite | |
| Names | JWS-D2 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Technology, Communications |
| Operator | Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) |
| COSPAR ID | 2009-028A |
| SATCAT no. | 35001 |
| Mission duration | 2.5 years (planned) 3 years (achieved) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | TacSat-3 |
| Bus | ATK |
| Manufacturer | Raytheon |
| Launch mass | 400 kg (880 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 19 May 2009, 23:55 UTC |
| Rocket | Minotaur I # 8 |
| Launch site | MARS, Wallops Island, LP-0B |
| Contractor | Orbital Sciences Corporation |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | 15 February 2012 |
| Decay date | 30 April 2012 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit[1] |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
| Perigee altitude | 432 km (268 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 467 km (290 mi) |
| Inclination | 40.40° |
| Period | 93.57 minutes |
.png){kind=logo} TacSat-3 patch mission | |
TacSat-3 is the second in a series of U.S. military experimental technology and communication satellites. It was assembled in an Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate facility at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.[2] The TacSat satellites are all designed to demonstrate the ability to provide real-time data collected from space to combatant commanders in the field.
TacSat-3 includes three distinct payloads:[3]
- the Advanced Responsive Tactically Effective Military Imaging Spectrometer (ARTEMIS) hyperspectral imager,
- the Ocean Data Telemetry Microsatellite Link and
- the Space Avionics Experiment.
- ^ "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ "On-demand intel satellite sensor delivered". United Press International. 12 June 2007. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011.
- ^ Kleiman, Michael P. (30 March 2006). "Responsive, flexible, and affordable satellite enhances support to warfighter". afrl.af.mil. Air Force Research Laboratory. Archived from the original on 25 July 2006.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
