The NASA Spartan satellite program was developed as a direct outgrowth of the NASA sounding rocket program. Designed to extend the observing time of sounding rocket class experiments from a few minutes to several hours, the Spartan family of reusable satellites will provide extended observation time for a large variety of astrophysics experiments. A series of missions to support studies in the areas of High-Energy Astrophysics, Solar Studies, Ultraviolet Astronomy, and Cometary Studies are manifested for flights in the 1986-1988 period. The Spartan satellites are designed to be deployed and retrieved by the Orbiter using the Canadian-built Remote Manipulator System (RMS). Once deployed, the Spartan satellite will perform scientific observations for up to 40 hours. All pointing sequences and satellite control commands are stored on-board the Spartan in a microcomputer controller. All data is recorded on a 10th bit tape recorder. No command or telemetry link is provided. Once the Spartan satellite has completed its observing sequence, it "safes" all systems and places itself in a stable attitude to permit retrieval by the Orbiter and return to Earth for data analysis and preparation for a new mission. Spartan 1 is the first in this continuing series of 1' cost free flyers. The experiment is a medium-energy x-ray scanner and will make observations of the Perseus Cluster, Galactic Center, and the Scorpius X-2. It will scan these sources to provide medium resolution X-ray data over the energy range of 0.5 to 15 keV. This experiment was developed at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC, and has been flown several times onboard NASA sounding rockets.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Spartan 1 Mission Operation Report


    Publication date :

    1985


    Size :

    18 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Spartan 1 Mission

    R. G. Cruddace / G. G. Fritz / D. J. Shrewsberry et al. | NTIS | 1989


    The Spartan 1 mission

    Cruddace, Raymond G. / Fritz, G. G. / Shrewsberry, D. J. et al. | NTRS | 1989


    The Spartan 1 mission

    Cruddace, R. G. / Brandenstein, D. C. / Creighton, J. O. et al. | NTRS | 1990


    Spartan

    Engineering Index Backfile | 1930