GemStar 1
GemStar 1 |
The CTA GEMStar-I (VITASAT-I) satellite partially sponsored by Volunteers In Technical Assistance (VITA) of Arlington Virginia, was launched at 2230 UTC from Vandenberg AFB on the 15-Aug-95, but a second stage failure destroyed the first flight of the Lockheed LLV-1 launch vehicle (later dubbed Athena).
The 136kg mini-satellite measured 1m in diameter and is 660mm high. It employs gravity gradient stabilisation, was 3-axis stabillised, and was based on CTA Inc' GemStar bus (CTA refer to the satellite as GemStar 1).
It was intended to be placed into a 650km orbit, receive 9.6 and 19.2kbps in the 148-150.5MHz band, and transmit at 9.6, 19.2 and 38.4kbps in the 137-137MHz and 400.15-401MHz bands.
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Communication |
| Operator: | CTA, VITA |
| Contractors: | CTA |
| Equipment: | |
| Configuration: | GemStar Bus |
| Propulsion: | |
| Lifetime: | |
| Mass: | 136 kg |
| Orbit: | 650 km x 650 km (planned) |
| Satellite | Date | LS | Launcher | Remarks: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GemStar 1 (VitaSat 1) | 15.08.1995 | Va SLC-6 | F | Athena-1 |
Last update: 27.09.2009
Contact: gunter.krebs@skyrocket.de
© Gunter Dirk Krebs