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Launch Vehicle and Orbit
This Year's Team:
Danetta Duran - Team Lead
Debbie Scarberry - Industry Consultant
The Launch Vehicle and Orbit Subsystem's tasks consist of finding a launch vehicle for Spartnik and analyzing feasible orbits for the microsatellite to ensure the minimum on orbit life requirement of 2-years. The following table summarizes Spartnik's orbit requirements, as well as the spacecraft's dimensions.
Launch Vehicle Requirements
| System |
Description |
Requirement |
| Orbit |
Altitude
Eccentricity
Inclination |
500-900 km(311-559 miles)
0 - 0.0353
> or = 40° |
| Operational Life |
|
2 Years, minimum |
| Satellite Structure |
Octagon Shape
Height
Diameter
Mass |
With Antennas Stowed
39.073 cm(15.383 in)
50.521 cm (19.890 in)
37.000 kg(81.570 lb-force) |
| Launch Vehicle Adapter (LVA) |
Circular Plate
Height
Diameter
Mass |
Modifiable for LV Requirements(2 week lead time)
15 cm (6 in) estimated
30 cm (12 in) estimated
7 kg (15.5 lb-force) estimated |
| Satellite and LVA Combined |
Height
Diameter
Mass |
48.307 cm (19.019 in)
50.521 cm (19.890 in)
44.000 kg ( 97.070 lb-force) |
Click here to download the above Fast-Fact sheet with an additional sketch of Spartnik in PDF form.
For a more detailed explanation of Launch Vehicle Requirements for Spartnik, please see the Spartnik Launch Vehicle Prospectus.
System Status: May 2001
The LV&O Team is continuously searching for a donated or a low cost Launch Vehicle. On a recent trip to Satellite 2001 Conference held in Washington D.C. to locate possible launch opportunities for Spartnik, a talk with Mr. Anatoly S. Karpov, President of Air Launch Aerospace Corporation, is looking to be a promising launch opportunity for Spartnik. Air Launch Aerospace Corporation is a Russian based Launch Vehicle company that is scheduled for its first launch in the middle of the year 2003. Currently the LV&O team is looking and exploring all secondary payload and test launch possibilities with all other launch vehicles.
For a helpful spacecraft and launch vehicle database, take a look at Access to Space. The database gives information on payloads and ride sharing on upcoming launches.
System Status: July 2000
The LV&O Team is still searching for a Launch Vehicle. Some of the possibilities include a launch on the Minotaur Launch Vehicle. Dialogs still continue with the Air Force as well as private launch companies.
For a helpful spacecraft and launch vehicle database, take a look at Access to Space. The database
gives information on payloads and ride sharing and upcoming launches
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