NASA ST5 Micro-Satellites Successfully Placed in Orbit

At 9:03 a.m. EST this morning, the Pegasus rocket carrying three ST5 micro-satellites dropped from its carrier jet, inserting all three of the ST5 satellites into Earth orbit. Once each of the spacecraft will be checked to ensure it’s functioning properly, and will then begin its mission evaluating the use of micro-satellite technology and examining the planet’s inner magnetosphere, a part of Earth’s atmosphere that protects us from radiation from the sun. NASA’s Space Technology 5 (ST5) Project is building and testing micro-satellites. These smaller-than-normal satellites will test and validate new technologies for future science missions. The hope is that ST5 will demonstrate the benefits of a group of small low-cost spacecraft taking measurements at the same time in different locations. ST5 is scheduled to operate in space for at least 90 days. ST5’s objective is to demonstrate and flight qualify several innovative technologies and concepts for application to future space missions. The ST5 Project is a part of NASA’s New Millennium Program, which was created to identify, develop, build, and test innovative technologies and concepts for use in future missions. Check out the ST5 pages on NASA’s website for more interesting information. or Utah Skies’ weekly report for February 24th, 2006 where we covered this mission program.