FORTE (P94-1)

FORTE [USAF]

FORTE (Fast On-orbit Recording of Transient Events) was was a small satellite program by the Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories for the Department of Energy. It carried sophisticated electronic equipment for detecting, analyzing and recording bursts of radion energy (monitoring of violations of nuclear test ban treaties) arising from near Earth's surface. The satellite used a completely graphite epoxy composite structure weighing only 41 kg. It carried a 10m depolyable antenna. The attitude mode employed was momentum bias with gravity gradient stabilization. It carried 3 × 2 axis magnetometers and an Earth horizon sensor, momentum wheel and 3-axis magnetic torque rods.