Space Technology 5
Artist's rendering of the "string of pearls" satellite constellation
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| Operator | NASA / GSFC |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 2006-008A through 2006-008C |
| SATCAT no. | 28980 through 28982 |
| Website | nmp.jpl.nasa.gov/st5 |
| Mission duration | 100 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer |
UCLA Kennedy Space Center New Mexico State University Physical Science Laboratory |
| Launch mass | 25 kilograms (55 lb) |
| Power | ≈20–25 W @ 9–10 V |
| End of mission | |
| Deactivated | June 30, 2006 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | sun synchronous |
| Eccentricity | 0.239 |
| Perigee | 300 km (190 mi) |
| Apogee | 4,500 km (2,800 mi) |
| Inclination | 105.6° |
| Transponders | |
| Band | X-Band |
| Bandwidth | 1 Kbps / 1 or 100 Kbps |
Space Technology 5 (ST5) of the NASA New Millennium program is a test of ten new technologies aboard a group of microsatellites. Developed by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, the three small spacecraft were launched separately from the belly of an Lockheed L-1011 aboard the Pegasus XL rocket, on 22 March 2006. One technology involves antennas that were designed by computers using an evolutionary AI system developed at NASA Ames Research Center. The ST5 on-board flight computer, the C&DH (Command & Data Handling) system, is based on a Mongoose-V radiation-hardened microprocessor.
On 30 June 2006 the satellites making up ST5 were shut down after successfully completing their technology validation mission.
ST5's objective was to demonstrate and flight qualify several innovative technologies and concepts for application to future space missions.
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