TacSat-1

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TacSat-1 is an experimental satellite built by the Naval Research Laboratory on behalf of the United States Department of Defense (DOD) Office of Force Transformation (OFT). The second satellite in the series, TacSat-2, has already been launched. At one time TacSat-1 was the planned payload of the third launch of the SpaceX Falcon 1.

TacSat-1 was to carry a variety of experimental payloads.^[1] Much of the payload software was implemented through the use of BASH (Bourne again shell) scripts operating on the "Copperfield-2" general-purpose computer system aboard the spacecraft.^[2]

Contents 1 Purpose 2 Launch 3 Systems 3.1 Platform 3.2 Camera 4 Orbit 5 Developers 6 See also 7 References

[edit] Purpose

The TacSat series of experimental spacecraft are designed to allow military commanders on a battlefield to request and obtain imagery and other data from a satellite as it passes overhead. Collected data will be delivered to field commanders in minutes rather than hours or days. The sensor on TacSat-1 can collect color images sharp enough to distinguish ground objects as small as 1 meter in diameter.^[3]

[edit] Launch

TacSat-1 is scheduled for launch in 2007 using a SpaceX Falcon 1 launcher. TacSat-1 was initially planned for launch in January 2004 but funding shortfalls and development delays precluded this date.

[edit] Systems

The TacSat series were planned to use commercial or available launchers, and largely off-the-shelf components, in order to reduce costs.

[edit] Platform

The TacSat-1 spacecraft is based on Orbital Sciences' MicroStar platform, also used for the Orbcomm communications constellation.

[edit] Camera

[edit] Orbit

The orbit is planned to have a height of 410km at an inclination of 40 degrees to the equator.

[edit] Developers

Apart from the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), other organizations participating included:

• DOD Space Test Program (Space and Missile Systems Center’s Space Development and Test Wing),
• Air Force Research Laboratory,
• Army Space Program Office,
• Air Force Space Command
• Space Warfare Center
• NASA
• Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).

[edit] See also

• TacSat-3

[edit] References

• USAF, TacSat-2 Micro Satellite, Air Force Research Laboratory, 2006-09-01.
• TacSat-2 Mission Information. NASA.