SpaceX to launch SpinSat Saturday

SpaceX to launch SpinSat Saturday

On Saturday, September 20 at 0616 UT SpaceX plan to launch a Falcon 9 from Florida carrying the satellite SpinSat with its amateur radio payload to the ISS

On arrival at the ISS it will be put into storage until deployment, later in the Fall, from the airlock of the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM).

Developed by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) SpinSat is a 56 cm sphere weighing 57 kg that has 12 Electronically-controlled Solid Propellant (ESP) thrusters spread in pairs throughout the surface of the satellite.
They will be fired in pairs to spin the spacecraft. With just primary batteries and only 4.8 grams of fuel this phase may last between three to six months.

The spacecraft will be used to calibrate the space surveillance network. Lasers will be fired at SpinSat from the ground, the light reflected back will be measured to determine where in time and space the satellite is passing overhead. SpinSat will also model the density of the atmosphere.

The IARU Satellite Coordination Panel report that SpinSat carries a 2 watt RF output AX.25 packet radio store and forward system on 437.230 MHz.

Read all about SpinSat at
http://www.nrl.navy.mil/media/news-releases/2014/
with-spinsat-mission-nrl-will-spin-small-satellite-in-space-with-new-thruster-technology

Falcon 9 launch status
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/013/status.html

NASA - SpinSat
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1019.html

AMSAT-UK http://amsat-uk.org/






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Launch delayed until Sunday at 1:52 am Eastern time due to bad weather at the launch site. Currently there is only a 40% chance of good weather Sunday. Next opportunity after Sunday is Tuesday September 23 at 1:04 am Eastern.

 

Looks like it went up last night! Wish I had stayed up and the WX clear enough to see it.

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/09/spacex-launch-dragon-crs-4-mission/

"A small satellite is also being carried aboard the Dragon in order to be deployed from the space station. The Special Purpose Inexpensive Satellite (SPINSat) will be used by the US Naval Research Laboratory and Space Test Program to study thruster operation and provide a target for tracking and atmospheric drag experiments. The satellite will be deployed using the Cyclops system via an airlock in the Kibo module of the station. "

Video here,

http://spacecoastdaily.com/2014/09/watch-live-spacex-crs-4-mission-set-for-launch-at-1245-a-m/

 

My experience with black anodized aluminum is that it fades rapidly in direct sunlight, and exposed to direct sunlight in space, without the benefit of an atmosphere to protect it, I think it's going to fade pretty quick.