Minotaur launches smallsat constellation
Posted: Sat, Apr 15, 2006, 11:58 AM ET (1558 GMT)
A Minotaur rocket launched a constellation of six small satellites for a US-Taiwan project to study terrestrial and space weather. The Minotaur lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 9:40 pm EDT Friday (0140 GMT Saturday), and placed the six-satellite COSMIC system into sun-synchronous orbit ten minutes later. The launch, which took place despite cloudy weather conditions that threatened to scrub the launch, was delayed 90 minutes to investigate a faulty monitoring system that developed problems in the final minutes before the originally-scheduled liftoff time. The six identical satellites will spend the next 13 months maneuvering into their desired formation. The satellites, called Formosat 3 in Taiwan, are a joint venture between institutions in the US and Taiwan to use radio occultation techniques, using signals transmitted by GPS satellites, to study atmospheric conditions, as well as to monitor space weather.
A Minotaur rocket launched a constellation of six small satellites for a US-Taiwan project to study terrestrial and space weather. The Minotaur lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 9:40 pm EDT Friday (0140 GMT Saturday), and placed the six-satellite COSMIC system into sun-synchronous orbit ten minutes later. The launch, which took place despite cloudy weather conditions that threatened to scrub the launch, was delayed 90 minutes to investigate a faulty monitoring system that developed problems in the final minutes before the originally-scheduled liftoff time. The six identical satellites will spend the next 13 months maneuvering into their desired formation. The satellites, called Formosat 3 in Taiwan, are a joint venture between institutions in the US and Taiwan to use radio occultation techniques, using signals transmitted by GPS satellites, to study atmospheric conditions, as well as to monitor space weather.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, August 8
Full Year 2025-26 Results
Eutelsat — 9:27 am ET (1327 GMT) Eutelsat to play central role in delivering the next phase of Europe’s sovereign IRIS² connectivity infrastructure
Eutelsat — 9:26 am ET (1326 GMT) SES advances next-generation MEO strategy following successful completion of IRIS² Rendez-vous 1
SES — 9:26 am ET (1326 GMT) IRIS² Enters Operational Phase After Review Completed: Eutelsat CEO
Aviation Week — 9:26 am ET (1326 GMT) |
