Regime Low Earth Launch mass 108 kg Operator National Rugby League | Launch date Never launched Reference system Geocentric Inclination 40& degrees Apogee 410,000 m | |
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Similar TacSat‑2, TacSat‑4, TacSat‑3, TAOS, PnPSat‑1 | ||
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. It is the planned payload of the sixth launch of the SpaceX Falcon 1.
Contents
TacSat-1 will carry a variety of experimental payloads. Much of the payload software is implemented through the use of bash scripts operating on the "Copperfield-2" general-purpose computer system aboard the spacecraft.
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.
Launch
TacSat-1 was initially planned for launch in January 2004, but delays in Falcon 1 becoming operational precluded this date. It was initially scheduled to fly on the maiden flight of the Falcon 1, but technical problems led to another Falcon 1, with FalconSat-2, launching first. Following the failure of this launch, it was moved to the third flight, to allow a demonstration launch to precede it. The failure of the demonstration flight led to further delays. In August 2007, the Pentagon announced that the launch of TacSat-1 was canceled due to the completion of most of its mission requirements by AFRL's previously launched TacSat-2. In September 2008, this decision was reversed, and it was reported that TacSat-1 would be launched by the sixth Falcon 1, in 2009.
Systems
The TacSat series of satellites use commercial or available launchers, and largely off-the-shelf components, in order to reduce costs.
Platform
The TacSat-1 spacecraft is based on Orbital Sciences' MicroStar platform, also used for the Orbcomm communications constellation.
Developers
Apart from the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), other organizations participating included: