Eyesat 1 (AO 27, OSCAR 27) [Interferometrics]
Eyesat 1 is an experimental communications microsatellite with an store-dump payload built by Interferometrics Inc. of Chantilly, Virginia. The mission of Eyesat 1 was experimental monitoring of mobile industrial equipment. Eyesat 1 has provided the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with communication services to the South Pole.
Additionally, the satellite carried an FM Repeater for AMRAD, a technically oriented, non-profit organization of radio amateurs based in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., to meet the needs of amateurs for a platform to conduct digital satellite communications experiments. The amateur payload was called AMRAD OSCAR or OSCAR 27.
The satellite was based on the AMSAT-NA Microsat platform. Power was supplied by body mounted solar cells, charging the spacecraft's batteries. Because of the satellite's limited power budget and a desire to maintain sufficient battery capacity for as many years as possible, the amateur transmitter on AO-27 is on for only part of the daylight portion of each orbit.
A constellation of six Eyesat satellites was originally planned, but only the prototype was launched.
An engineering model of the Eyesat 1 is currently on display at the Smithsonian Institution’s Air and Space Museum.
Nation: | USA |
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Type / Application: | Communication |
Operator: | Interferometrics Inc., AMRAD |
Contractors: | Interferometrics Inc. |
Equipment: | |
Configuration: | AMSAT-NA Microsat |
Propulsion: | None |
Power: | Solar cells, batteries |
Lifetime: | |
Mass: | 12 kg |
Orbit: | 794 km × 823 km, 98.5° |
Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
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Eyesat 1 (AMRAD-OSCAR 27, AO 27) | 1993-061C | 26.09.1993 | Ko ELA-2 | Ariane-40 H10 | with SPOT 3, Stella, Healthsat 2, Kitsat 2, Itamsat, PoSAT 1 | |
Eyesat engineering model | - | not flown |