OTB 1

OTB 1 [SSTL]

OTB-1 (Orbital Test Bed 1) is a small satellite operated by General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems Group (GA-EMS) to host several experiments from different customers.

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) plans to fly a dedicated satellite for hosted payloads in 2015. This OTB (Orbital Test Bed) satellite provides the opportunity for Hosted Payload customers to benefit from reliable, low-risk access to orbit, to rapidly and cost-effectively space-qualify new technology, gain flight heritage, acquire mission experience, generate in-orbit data and provide mission continuity capability, without the need to procure a costly dedicated launch. In 2017, the asstes of SSTL-US, including the OTB-1 mission, were acquired by General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems Group (GA-EMS).

OTB 1 is based on the SSTL-150 bus and The mission is planned to last five years.

One of the hosted payloads is NASA's DSAC (Deep Space Atomic Clock), a technology demonstration mission with the goal to validate a miniaturized, ultra-precise mercury-ion atomic clock that is 100 times more stable than today’s best navigation clocks.

Also on board is a small capsule with cremated human remains for Celestis, called "Heritage Flight".

A second mission called OTB 2 is planned for 2022.