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Sapphire |
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 | Sapphire is the first Satellite QUIck Research\r\nTestbed (SQUIRT) satellite and the second to fly. As part of the SSDL, the SQUIRT project trained graduate level students in all aspects of the design and construction of a satellite. Yes, that\'s\r\nright, the students designed, built, tested, and operated it - with ample and essential help from mentors and industry partners. The Sapphire project was started in early April of 1994, was flight-readied in July 1998, and launched on 30 September 2001 as part of the Kodiak Star mission. Sapphire's primary mission is to space-qualify micromachined infrared sensors. The Principal Investigator is Professor Tom Kenny of Stanford Unviersity. These sensors are part of a JPL program to push the development of light-weight, inexpensive sensors for spacecraft. Also on-board are a digital camera and a voice synthesizer. Sapphire's other mission is to train USNA midshipmen in spacecraft operations.For pre-flight integration and post-launch operations support, Sapphire is managed by Project Aria at Washington University, St. Louis.
More information is found here.
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Last Updated ( Jan 10, 2006 at 11:10 PM )
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OPAL |
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 | OPAL is the Orbiting Picosatellite Automated Launcher. It is SSDL's second Satellite QUIck Research Testbed (SQUIRT) satellite and the first SSDL satellite to be launched.It flew aboard the maiden flight of the Minotaur, a modified Minuteman missile, on January 26, 2000. It operated for 30 months before it ceased operation. OPAL's primary mission demonstrated the feasibility of launching multiple picosatellites from a mothership satellite. Six picosatellites flew on OPAL. Two were built by the Aerospace corporation to characterize MEMS RF devices and perform communication experiments. Three were built by students at Santa Clara University to monitor VLF emissions from thunderstorms.The final picosatellite was built by HAMS to perform radio relay. The satellite's secondary payloads were component characterization of an accelerometer testbed and a magnetometer testbed. |
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Last Updated ( Jan 24, 2007 at 03:36 PM )
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Past Projects