MicroSat
A constellation of seven 22-kg microsatellites, sponsored by DARPA (Defence
Advanced Research Projects Agency), and launched on Jul. 16, 1991, by a
Pegasus rocket into a 359 ×
457 km × 82° orbit, rather than the higher intended orbit of 833
× 833 km. The satellites supported "bent-pipe" relay for
voice, data, fax, and slow speed video communications, as well as hi-fidelity
secure voice and encrypted data and limited store-and-forward communications,
and were intended to provide data for ArcticSat, a system for communicating
with nuclear submarines under the polar cap. However, this ability was compromised
by the lower than planned orbit which caused the satellites' footprints
to be separated. All the spacecraft decayed in January 1992 after little
operational use. The mission was also known as the Small Communications
Satellite (SCS).
Related category
• SATELLITES
AND SPACE PROBES
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