XSS-10 (eXperimental Small Satellite 10) was a small, low-cost micro-spacecraft developed by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate to test technology for line-of-sight guidance of spacecraft.[2] The project was initiated at AFRL by Program Manager David Barnhart[3] and completed by Georgia Tech Research Institute engineer Thom Davis and team.[4] The project was declared a success shortly after launch.[5]

XSS-10
XSS-10 computer model
Mission typeTechnology
OperatorAFRL
COSPAR ID2003-005B Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.27664Edit this on Wikidata
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerBoeing
Launch mass28 kilograms (62 lb)
Start of mission
Launch dateJanuary 29, 2003, 18:06:00 (2003-01-29UTC18:06Z) UTC
RocketDelta II 7925-9.5 (Delta 295)
Launch siteCape Canaveral SLC-17B
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Eccentricity0.020384971
Perigee altitude518.0 kilometers (321.9 mi)
Apogee altitude805.0 kilometers (500.2 mi)
Inclination39.75 degrees
Period98.0 minutes
Epoch29 January 2003, 13:06:00 UTC[1]
Spent upper stage of the Delta II launch vehicle imaged by the XSS-10 satellite

References

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  1. ^ "NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Trajectory Details". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  2. ^ Banke, Jim (2003-01-30). "Air Force XSS-10 Micro-Satellite Mission a Success". Space.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
  3. ^ Barnhart, David A.; Hunter, Roger C.; Weston, Alan R.; Chioma, Vincent J.; Steiner, Mark; Larsen, William (October 1998). XSS-10 micro-satellite demonstration. AIAA Defense and Civil Space Programs Conference and Exhibit. Huntsville, AL: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi:10.2514/6.1998-5298. AIAA 1998-5298.
  4. ^ "Big plans for small satellites". Historical archive. Georgia Tech Research Institute. Retrieved 2012-10-26.
  5. ^ Sanders, Jane M (2003-08-11). "The Little Engine That Could". Research Horizons. Georgia Institute of Technology. Retrieved 2012-10-26.
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