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DirecTV 7S |
DirecTV 7S is an American geostationary communications satellite that was launched on May 4, 2004. The satellite, that was built by Space Systems/Loral, will provide direct-to-home television service to American homes. It is the second spot-beam satellite in the DirecTV fleet, after DirecTV 4S that was launched in November 2001.
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 30:08:2004 |
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AMC 11 |
AMC 11, also known as GE 11, is an American geostationary communications satellite that was launched on May 19, 2004. The spacecraft was designed and built by Lockheed Martin for SES Americom of Princeton, NJ. The 1.8-ton satellite will be used to provide cable television services to all 50 United States, Mexico and the Caribbean.
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30:08:2004 |
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GSAT 2 |
GSAT 2 is an Indian (ISRO) experimental communication satellite onboard the second developmental test flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). Besides the communication payload, 2000 kg GSAT-2 also carries four scientific payloads which are total radiation dose monitor, surface charge potential monitor, coherent radio beacon experiment and solar X-ray spectrometer. The GSLV is the cornerstone in the Indian Space Research Organization's aspirations to have a "self-reliant" space program, where satellites are both built and launched from Indian soil. GSAT 2 was launched on May 8, 2003.
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25:08:2004 |
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XSS 10 |
XSS 10 is an American microsatellite that was launched on January 29, 2003. XSS (Experimental Small Satellites) are a new class of low-cost satellites developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The mission of XSS 10 was to demonstrate maneuvering close to other space vehicles on orbit. During a 24-hour mission, the 28-kilogram satellite successfully maneuvered back and forth within 100 meters of its booster rocket's spent stage.
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25:08:2004 |
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Eutelsat W3A |
Eutelsat W3A is a geostationary communications satellite belonging to Eutelsat consortium, and was launched on March 15, 2004. The 4.4-ton satellite will provide direct-to-home voice, data, and video communications to Europe, Middle East, and Africa. It will replace the Eutelsat W3 satellite. The W3A spacecraft was designed and built by EADS Astrium.
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25:08:2004 |
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Dash |
Dash is a Japanese (ISAS) technology demonstration microsatellite that was launched on February 4, 2002. The 89 kg satellite was to release a 19 kg capsule to test viability of hypersonic re-entry. Dash failed to separate from the payload attach fitting, which is a part of the rocket, and on February 5, 2002 ISAS decided to abort the entire DASH mission.
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25:08:2004 |
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Amazonas |
Amazonas is a Spanish telecommunications satellite that was launched on August 5, 2004. The satellite, which belongs to the Spanish company Hispasat and weighs 10,000 pounds (4,540 kilograms) will be used to provide communications services on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
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11:08:2004 |
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Bilsat 1 |
Bilsat 1 is a Turkish DMC (multinational Diaster Monitoring Constellation) satellite that was launched on September 27, 2003. The 130 kg satellite carries five imaging cameras to monitor natural disasters at a resolution of 26-m in color and another at 12-m resolution in black-and-white. The DMC is run by an organization of seven countries (UK, Algeria, China, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam) with the satellites built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, UK. BILSAT 1 will also help in agriculture and urban planing.
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11:08:2004 |
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Metsat 1 |
Metsat 1 is an Indian (ISRO) meteorological geostationary satellite that was launched on September 12, 2002. Metsat 1 carries a 3-band very high-resolution radiometer, operating in visible, thermal infrared and water vapor bands. Metsat 1 will provide meteorological services for the India Meteorological Department including cyclone warning dissemination services, meteorological data collection and weather imagery on a continuous basis.
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28:07:2004 |
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Fedsat |
Fedsat is an Australian 50 kg microsatellite that was launched on December 14, 2002. It carries communications, navigation, and computing systems and a sensitive magnetometer. With a planned life of three-years, Fedsat is being used to conduct a number of space science, communications, remote sensing and engineering experiments. It is also reported to carry a compact disk carrying voice recordings of 300 Australians as a time capsule enduring its estimated 100-year orbital life-span.
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28:07:2004 |
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Anik F2 |
Anik F2 is the world's largest telecommunications satellite which will provide telecommunications services across North America for the Canadian operator Telesat. The nearly six-tonne satellite was built by Boeing Satellite Systems. It was launched on July 18, 2004.
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21:07:2004 |
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Aura |
Aura is an American (NASA) satellite launched on July 15, 2004. Its mission is to study the Earth's atmosphere, climate change and regional differences in air quality. The satellite carries four instruments that will allow it to study the atmosphere from the troposphere, at sea-level, to the stratosphere, where the ozone layer is located. Aura is the third of three large satellites in NASA's Earth Observing System.
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21:07:2004 |
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Telstar 18 (APStar 5) |
Telstar 18 (APStar 5) is an American communications spacecraft that was launched by a Zenit 3SL rocket from the Odyssey platform floating on the equatorial Pacific Ocean on 29 June 2004. It was intended to be a geostationary satellite, but due to the premature stoppage of the boost from the final DM-SL stage, it ended far below the geostationary orbit - an apogee of only 21000 km instead of 36000 km. First analysis showed, that the spacecraft can be put into a geostationary orbit by its thrusters, possibly even without reduced lifetime. Telstar 18 will replace the aging APStar 1 satellite. It will provide voice, video and data services to China, Hawaii, and East Asia. The new satellite will also be used to provide space-based Internet backbone services for the main cities of Asia to and from the U.S. through Hawaii.
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13:07:2004 |
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Amsat-Echo |
Amsat-Echo is an American amateur radio satellite. It has a launch mass of 12 kg. AMSAT North America sent the satellite to orbit on June 29, 2004. It's the first in a new series of small user-friendly repeater satellites. AMSAT is the non-profit all-volunteer organization dedicated to building, orbiting, and operating amateur radio satellites. Among other capabilities, the 10-inch-square microsatellite - equipped with a transmitter capable of up to 7W output - will allow voice communication using handheld FM transceivers.
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13:07:2004 |
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Unisat 3 |
Unisat 3 (University Satellite) is an Italian research microsatellite designed and assembled by students of La Sapienza University of Rome. Unisat 3 mission is to test solar cells under space conditions. The satellite weighing 12 kg was launched on June 29, 2004.
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07:07:2004 |
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DEMETER |
DEMETER (Detection of Electro-Magnetic Emissions Transmitted from Earthquake Regions) is a French (CNES) microsatellite designed to measure electrical and magnetic signals in the upper atmosphere. These signals may precede, coexist with or succeed seismic or volcanic events on the earth surface. The satellite weighing 125 kg was launched on June 29, 2004.
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07:07:2004 |
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Intelsat 10-02 |
Global communications satellite operator Intelsat launched its largest and most powerful spacecraft Intelsat 10-02 on June 17, 2004. Intelsat 10-02 will relay television programming, offer Internet connectivity and provide a host of other telecommunications services across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Also, the satellite can reach as far west as the Americas and as far east as India.
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29:06:2004 |
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Fengyun 1D |
Fengyun 1D (meaning Wind and Cloud 1D) is the first-generation meteorological satellite developed by China. It was launched on May 15, 2002. The 428-kg satellite carries an earth imager that will digitally photograph clouds, rivers, and lakes. Fengyun 1D is designed to provide weather forecasting, climate projection, and natural disaster and environmental monitoring.
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29:06:2004 |
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CUBESAT XI-IV |
CUBESAT XI-IV is a Japanese (University of Tokyo) nanosatellite that was launched on June 30, 2003. The mission of this CubeSat satellite is on-orbit verification of the super small satellite (nano-satellite) bus system using commercial-off-the-shell components. It carries an 80 mW beacon at 436.8475 MHz, the operating frequency in the amateur communication band. It is the first satellite of the University of Tokyo Intelligent Space Systems Laboratory (ISSL) where 20 space-engineering students conduct the project as an education program. The satellite is a 10-cm cube weighing 1 kg.
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21:06:2004 |
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CANX 1 |
CANX 1 (Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiment 1) is a Canadian photo-imaging nanosatellite that was launched on June 30, 2003. It was built by graduate students of the Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) at University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS). It is Canada's first nanosatellite. CANX 1 is one of the smallest satellites ever built. It has a mass under 1 kg, fits in a 10 cm cube, and operates with less than 2 W of power. Its mission is to evaluate several novel technologies in space, including a low-cost CMOS horizon sensor and star-tracker, active three-axis magnetic stabilization, GPS-based position determination, and an ARM7 central computer.
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21:06:2004 |
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WEOS |
WEOS (Whale Ecology Observation Satellite) is an amateur-made Japanese microsatellite that was launched on December 14, 2002 to monitor whale migrations. The students of the Chiba Institute of Technology, lead by Professor Tomonao Hayashi, developed and manufactured WEOS. Ecological data of whales are sent from probes attached to whales on the ocean to the satellite, which collects the data, stores it in onboard memory, and sends back at a command to a ground station. Satellite tracking and data collection are performed at the Chiba Institute of Technology ground station.
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07:06:2004 |
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ALSAT 1 |
ALSAT 1 is an Algerian imaging minisatellite that was launched on November 28, 2002. The 90-kg satellite is part of an international Disaster Monitoring System (DMS) for alerting natural/man-made disasters. ALSAT 1 is the first spacecraft of Disaster Monitoring Constellation. The spacecraft is the result of international cooperation between Algeria, China, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam. ALSAT-1's imaging payload will provide extremely wide swath (600km) 32-metre multispectral imaging with a four-day revisit capability worldwide. This is Algeria's first national satellite. A follow-on constellation with higher imaging resolution capability will begin launches in 2004.
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07:06:2004 |
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INSAT 3A |
INSAT 3A is an Indian (Indian Space Research Organisation - ISRO) geostationary communications, television broadcasting and weather-monitoring satellite that was launched on April 9, 2003. INSAT 3A is ISRO's biggest satellite and the third satellite in the INSAT-3 series. INSAT 3A also carries a transponder for Satellite Aided Search and Rescue as part of India's contribution to the international SAS & R programme. INSAT 3A is the only geostationary satellite at present, which is providing Geostationary Orbit Satellite Aided Search and Rescue services in this part of the globe, covering Europe to Australia in the Indian Ocean and the Australian regions.
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31:05:2004 |
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ROCSAT-2 |
ROCSAT-2 is Republic of China's remote sensing satellite that was launched on May 20, 2004. The spacecraft was built for Taiwan's National Space Program Office (NSPO) by EADS Astrium. ROCSAT-2 is a 750 kg panchromatic and multispectral remote sensing satellite that will observe and monitor the terrestrial and marine environment of Taiwan and surrounding waters. The satellite also carries an instrument to observe lightning in the Earth's upper atmosphere.
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31:05:2004 |
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NAXING 1 |
NAXING 1 (also reported as NANOSAT 1) is a Chinese satellite that was launched on April 18, 2004. It was developed by Tsinghua University and Aerospace Tsinghua Satellite Technology Co. The 25-kilogram satellite is ChinaВЎВЇs first satellite that weighs less than 30 kilograms. The satellite is the first of a series of 25-kg minisatellites which will be used for data transmission, remote sensing photography, and surveying and mapping experiments.
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24:05:2004 |
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TANSUO 1 |
TANSUO 1 (also reported as EXPERIMENTSAT 1) is a Chinese satellite developed in collaboration with the European Astrium Corporation. It was launched on April 18, 2004. The craft has 10-meter stereo resolution observation capacity. The 204-kg satellite will be used to carry out photographic surveys of China's land resources, monitor geographical environment and conduct scientific research on mapping. It is China's first transmission-type small satellite capable of stereo mapping.
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24:05:2004 |
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Quickbird 2 |
Quickbird 2 is an American, privately-owned earth-imaging satellite that was launched on October 18, 2001. EarthWatch Inc. uses the craft to take the highest resolution images of Earth's surface available on the commercial market. Quickbird 2 is able to generate black and white pictures that show objects as small as two feet across and color images with 2.5-meters resolution.
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17:05:2004 |
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Coriolis |
Coriolis is an American (DoD) spacecraft that was launched on January 6, 2003. Its two instruments are SMEI to image Solar Mass Ejections (SME) and WindSat. WindSat is a joint Department of Commerce/DoD/NASA risk reduction demonstration project intended to measure ocean surface wind speed and wind direction from space using a polarimetric radiometer. SMEI is a major payload. Its purpose is to demonstrate predictions of geomagnetic disturbances through continuous observation of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs).
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17:05:2004 |
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IRS P6 |
IRS P6, also known as RESOURCESAT 1, is an Indian remote sensing and photo-imaging spacecraft that was launched on October 17, 2003. It is a follow-on satellite for earth observation that will provide continuity to IRS-1C and 1D and will enhance the service capabilities in the areas of agriculture, disaster management, land and water resources with better resolution imagery. IRS-P6 is the tenth satellite of the IRS series, and carries three cameras similar to those of IRS-1C and IRS-1D but with improved spatial resolutions.
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11:05:2004 |
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CBERS 2 |
CBERS 2 (China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite) is a Sino-Brazilian remote sensing satellite that was launched on October 21, 2003. The 1.6-ton satellite will collect data relevant to environment, agriculture, urban planning and water pollution, under Chinese control for 18 months, and later under Brazilian control during the remaining lifetime (of six or more months). Data and photos transmitted by the satellite can be used in a various fields, such as disaster-prevention and monitoring of geological, oceanic and meteorological conditions. CBERS 2 fills the role left open by CBERS 1, which was taken out of operation in August 2003, having almost doubled its design life since its launch in October 1999.
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11:05:2004 |
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OrbView-3 |
OrbView-3 is an American photo-imaging minisatellite that was launched on June 26, 2003. ORBIMAGE’s OrbView-3 satellite is among the world’s first commercial satellites that provide high-resolution imagery from space. The 304-kg satellite carries high-resolution cameras to enable black-and-white images at 1.0-meter resolution and color images at 4.0 meter resolution.
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11:05:2004 |
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Gravity Probe B |
Gravity Probe B is a NASA-funded, Stanford University developed spacecraft designed to test two fundamental predictions made by Albert Einstein about the Universe. Inside the satellite are four gyroscopes whose movement could confirm - or not confirm - the theoretical underpinnings of modern physics. Each of the gyroscopes - which are small balls of fused quartz - is cooled and spun by jets of liquid helium at a temperature of 450 degrees below zero. Scientists will be trying to measure space and time warping due to the mass of an object in space and an effect which is called "frame-dragging". The satellite was launched on April 21, 2004.
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11:05:2004 |
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Aqua |
Aqua (previously named EOS PM-1) is a major American (NASA) hydrology satellite that was launched on May 4, 2002. It carries six instrument packages to study the global water cycle in the oceans, ice caps, land masses and the atmosphere. The Aqua mission is a part of the NASA-centered international Earth Observing System (EOS). Aqua is the sister satellite to NASA's Terra spacecraft, launched in December of 1999. Aqua satellite serves to improve weather forecasting, especially mid-range forecasts that go out two or more days.
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26:04:2004 |
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SPOT 5 |
SPOT 5 is a French (CNES) earth-imaging three-ton satellite that was launched on May 4, 2002. Its planar and stereoscopic relief images at about three-meter resolution are marketed for civilian and military uses, for cartographic, and vegetation analyses. SPOT 5 is the fifth satellite in the SPOT series. The new satellite is designed to ensure SPOT data users continuity of service, enhanced image quality and improved services. The satellite will provide digital elevation models (DEMs) of any location on Earth, allowing customers to create realistic 3D perspectives.
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26:04:2004 |
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Envisat 1 |
Environmental Satellite (EnviSat) 1 is an European (ESA) environmental remote-sensing spacecraft that was launched on March 1, 2002. The 8.1-ton spacecraft is the most massive and expensive of the European satellites, and carries 10 sensors which provide measurements of the atmosphere, ocean, land, and ice. The Envisat satellite works closely together with the European Artemis data relay satellite. EnviSat 1 is the successor to the ESA Remote Sensing Satellites ERS-1 and ERS-2.
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19:04:2004 |
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MSG 1 |
MSG 1 (Meteosat Second Generation 1) is a European geostationary weather satellite that was launched on August 28, 2002. The cylindrical, 2-ton satellite will enable quicker and more accurate weather forecasts in Europe than in the past. It carries two major instruments. MSG 1 is the first in a series of Meteosat Second Generation spacecraft. Designed and built by the European Space Agency on behalf of the European Organisation for Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), MSG-1 will not only improve forecasts of severe weather, but also enhance our understanding of global climate change. At present three satellites are planned. Each satellite will have a nominal seven-year lifetime.
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19:04:2004 |
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Jason 1 |
Jason 1 is an American-French (NASA-CNES) oceanography mission to monitor global ocean circulation, discover the tie between the oceans and atmosphere, improve global climate predictions, and monitor events such as El Nino conditions. It is the first follow-on to the highly successful TOPEX/Poseidon mission that measured ocean surface topography to an accuracy of 4.2 cm. The satellite carries five instruments (an altimeter, a radiometer, and three location systems). It was launched on December 7, 2001.
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12:04:2004 |
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TES |
TES (Technology Experiment Satellite) is an Indian remote sensing and photoreconnaissance satellite that was launched on October 22, 2001. The 1,108-kg satellite carries a one-meter resolution panchromatic camera. The satellite is operated by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). India is the second country in the world after the USA that can offer images with one-metre resolution. TES might be the prototype of an Indian military reconnaisance satellite.
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12:04:2004 |
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KAISTSAT 4 |
KAISTSAT 4, also known as STSat-1 (Science and Technology Satellite-1), is science and technology demonstration satellite, the first scientific space mission for the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology of South Korea. KAISTSAT 4 was launched on September 27, 2003. The craft will spend a year conducting a full-sky survey in the far ultraviolet wavelength, followed the next year by individual observations of locations in the sky that are of particular interest to astronomers. UC Berkeley built SPEAR instrument, the Spectroscopy of Plasma Evolution from Astrophysical Radiation sensor, is the primary payload on KAISTSAT 4.
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05:04:2004 |
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QuakeSat |
QuakeSat is a privately funded small satellite project to detect earthquakes from outer space. The three primary mission objectives for the QuakeSat Nano-Sat are: 1) To detect, record, and downlink earthquake ELF (extremely low frequency) emission data, 2) Demonstrate that the CubeSat Nano-Sat design is a cost-effective platform for conducting significant space science research experiments, 3) Demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing commercially-off-the-shelf (COTS) parts to construct a reliable, short mission micro-satellite. The CubeSat design was developed jointly by Stanford University and California Polytechnic State University and represents a standardized form factor for small satellites. QuakeSat was launched on June 30, 2003.
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05:04:2004 |
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SCISAT 1 |
SCISAT 1 spacecraft carrying the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE) is the first Canadian scientific satellite since 1971. The principal goal of the ACE mission is to investigate the chemical processes that are involved in the distribution of ozone in the atmosphere. The ACE mission will work in conjunction with other instruments and missions planned by NASA, the European Space Agency, and other international partners over the next decade to gain a better understanding of the chemistry and dynamics of the atmosphere that affect the Earth’s protective ozone layer. SCISAT 1 was launched on August 13, 2003.
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29:03:2004 |
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ICESat |
The main objective of the ICESat (Ice, Clouds, and Land Elevation Satellite) mission is to measure ice sheet elevations and changes in elevation through time. Secondary objectives include measurement of cloud and aerosol height profiles, land elevation and vegetation cover, and sea ice thickness. ICESat will enable scientists to study the Earth's climate and, ultimately, predict how ice sheets and sea level will respond to future climate change. The ICESat mission is unique because the laser altimeter measures the changes in ice thickness over million of locations in both Greenland and Antarctica, helping fill fundamental gaps in our understanding of sea level forecasting. ICESat is the latest in a series of NASA's Earth observation spacecraft designed to study the environment of our home planet and how it may be changing. ICESat was launched on January 12, 2003.
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29:03:2004 |
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MOST |
The smallest astronomical space telescope ever was launched by Canada. The tiny telescope will rely on new technology to keep the microsatellite stable enough for useful astronomy. The primary objective of the MOST (Microvariability and Oscillations of Stars Microsatellite) mission is long-duration stellar photometry of high precision. The 51-kg satellite carries a 60-cm aperture reflecting telescope, which will observe individual stars for up to seven weeks, looking for tiny changes in brightness that give clues to their composition and age. The telescope will also look for dimming caused by orbiting planets passing in front of the stars, and might see light reflected off of the planets.MOST satellite was launched on June 30, 2003.
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22:03:2004 |
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GALEX |
GALEX (The Galaxy Evolution Explorer) is an orbiting space telescope that will observe galaxies in ultraviolet light across 10 billion years of cosmic history. GALEX is the first ultraviolet survey mission of the Universe. It is a NASA small explorer class mission. GALEX was launched on April 28th, 2003.
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22:03:2004 |
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CHIPSAT |
The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer (CHIPS) is a University-Class Explorer (UNEX) mission funded by NASA. The CHIPS instrument is carried in space aboard CHIPSat, a dedicated spacecraft built by SpaceDev, Inc. The mission will provide information about the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. The spacecraft was launched on January 12, 2003.
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15:03:2004 |
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SORCE |
The Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) is a NASA-sponsored satellite mission that provides state-of-the-art measurements of incoming x-ray, ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared, and total solar radiation. The measurements provided by SORCE specifically address long-term climate change, natural variability and enhanced climate prediction, and atmospheric ozone and UV-B radiation. These measurements are critical to studies of the Sun; its effect on the Earth system; and its influence on humankind. The SORCE spacecraft was launched on January 25, 2003. With four instruments, it will orbit Earth 15 times a day and study and measure the sun’s radiative output.
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15:03:2004 |
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International Space Station |
Now the 8th permanent crew composed of one American and one Russian works at the station. The crew will work until April 2004. Twenty flights, which include 16 space shuttle missions, have already occurred in the International Space Station era. During last three years the following elements were added to the station: station's robot arm, Russian Docking Compartment, Mobile Base System, S0, S1 and P1 Trusses.
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02:03:2004 |
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ADEOS 2 |
The ADvanced Earth Observing Satellite 2 (ADEOS-2) Mission is a joint international cooperative program like its predecessor, ADEOS-1. With a 3-year operational life, the mission was planned to support
the monitoring of global environmental changes while continuing and furthering the broad-ranging observation technology created by ADEOS-1. Among the research areas, ADEOS-II was particularly dedicated to water and energy cycling and carbon cycling.
ADEOS 2, also known as MIDORI 2 was launched on December 14, 2002. On October 25, 2003 Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced that the contact with the ADEOS 2 satellite has been lost.
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08:03:2004 |
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USERS |
USERS (Unmanned Space Experiment Recovery System) is a Japanese microgravity experimental satellite that was
launched on September 10, 2002. The USERS spacecraft system consists of a Reentry Module (REM), a capsule that returns to Earth carrying equipment bearing the results of experiments conducted in orbit,
and the Service Module (SEM), which provides REM with various resources and services in orbit. The objectives of the USERS project are (1) to develop and test Japan’s first technology for autonomous
return from orbit, reentering Earth’s atmosphere and landing safely on the ground, (2) to conduct crystal growth experiments on high-temperature superconductive materials under the microgravity
environment of orbit and study the crystal growth mechanisms necessary for future production on Earth, (3) to study how commercial off-the-shelf parts and technologies function in space and gain the knowledge
needed for the construction of the “advanced satellite bus.” The Reentry Module loaded with made-in-space
superconductive material returned to Earth on May 30, 2003.
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08:03:2004 |
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RHESSI |
HESSI (High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager), renamed to RHESSI (Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager) was launched on February 5, 2002. RHESSI's primary mission is to explore the basic physics of particle acceleration and the explosive energy release in solar flares. Since its launch on February 5, 2002, RHESSI has observed over 8,000 solar activity events. Mission managed by the NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center and the University of California, Berkeley. RHESSI has obtained many "first time" observations of solar processes. RHESSI is the sixth Small Explorer (SMEX) mission and the first to be managed in the "principal investigator" mode.
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02:03:2004 |
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TIMED |
The 2-year TIMED (Thermosphere - Ionosphere - Mesosphere - Energetics and Dynamics) mission is studying the influences of the sun and humans on the least explored and understood region of Earth's atmosphere - the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere/Ionosphere (MLTI). The MLTI region is a gateway between Earth's environment and space, where the sun's energy is first deposited into Earth's environment. TIMED is focusing on a portion of this atmospheric region located approximately 40-110 miles (60-180 kilometers) above the surface. TIMED was launched on December 7, 2001. The TIMED spacecraft is the initial mission in NASA's Solar Terrestrial Probes Program, part of NASA's initiative to lower mission costs and provide more frequent access to space to systematically study the sun-Earth system.
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02:03:2004 |
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