TERRIERS (STEDI 2) [NASA]
TERRIERS (Topographic Experiment using Radiative Recombinative Ionospheric EUV and Radio Sources) was a mission to study the ionosphere.
After the first 3 contacts it was clear that the spacecraft's attitude control system was not functioning properly, since the solar array was pointing away from the sun and the system was nutating. Sometime shortly thereafter the spacecraft ran out of battery power. Further attempts to reactivate the spacecraft failed.
TERRIERS is one of three satellite projects selected for the Student Explorer Demonstration Initiative program (STEDI). STEDI is funded by NASA and managed by the Universities Space Research Association (USRA).
Nation: | USA |
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Type / Application: | Atmospheric Research |
Operator: | NASA |
Contractors: | AeroAstro |
Equipment: | GISSMO, TESS, Photometers, Radio Beacon |
Configuration: | HETE-Bus, spin stabilized |
Propulsion: | None |
Power: | Fixed solar array, batteries |
Lifetime: | 1 year (planned) |
Mass: | 125 kg |
Orbit: | 540 km × 553 km, 97.7° |
Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
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TERRIERS (STEDI 2, Explorer 76) | 1999-026A | 18.05.1999 | Va, L-1011 | Pegasus-XL HAPS | with MUBLCOM |