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PTD 1
PTD 1 [Tyvak]
The PTD 1 (Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator) is a 6U CubeSat technology demonstration mission that will test the operation of a variety of novel CubeSat subsystems in low-Earth orbit, providing significant enhancements to the performance of these small and effective spacecraft.
The primary goal of the first Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator spacecraft is to flight qualify and characterize a novel micro-electrospray thruster provided by Busek Space Propulsion and Systems.
Each PTD mission consists of a 6-unit (6U) CubeSat weighing approximately 11 kilograms and measuring 30 cm × 25 cm × 10 cm. Each PTD spacecraft will also be equipped with deployable solar arrays that provide an average of 44 watts of power while in orbit.
It was selected in 2017 by NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) to be launched as part of the ELaNa program.
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Technology |
| Operator: | NASA Ames Research Center; Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc. |
| Contractors: | NASA Ames Research Center; Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc. (bus) |
| Equipment: | |
| Configuration: | CubeSat (6U) |
| Propulsion: | 3 × micro-electrospray thrusters |
| Power: | 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries |
| Lifetime: | |
| Mass: | 11 kg |
| Orbit: | 400 km × 400 km, 51.6° (typical) |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PTD 1 | - | 2020 | CC | Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) | with QPS-SAR 2, Umbra-SAR 2001, Capella 2, 3, XR 1, YAM 3, GNOMES 2, Hawk D, E, F, SHERPA-FX, Vigoride x, PlasmaBrake, RadCube, VZLUsat 2, LINCS A, B, CPOD A, B, Astrocast 1.x1, ..., 1.x8, SpaceBEE x1, ..., x12, Delfi-PQ 1, Sattla, EASAT, HADES, Grizu-263a, LibertyQube 1, Pycubed, TRSI 2, Tartan Artibeus, Lemur-2 x1, ..., x8, SW1FT, ARCE 1A, 1B, 1C, Outpost Demonstration 1, (multiple satellelites) |
References:
- NASA: Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator
- NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate: Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator – “Enabling the Next Generation of CubeSat Missions”, 23 April 2019
