Session
Technical Session III: Systems/Buses
Abstract
This paper describes a new direction in small low cost spacecraft. This 150 pound satellite provides access to conduct experiments in space on an economical and short term basis. It can be used by commercial as well as scientific institutions. Currently called the XSAT, it was developed by NASA in cooperation with Defense Systems Inc. (DSI) of McLean, Virginia. XSAT provides for experimental payloads up to 50 pounds, 50 watt hours per day, one megabyte data storage, three day command memory and packetized protocol. Structural and thermal designs can handle worst case loads of the STS manned launch vehicle. XSAT can be operated by an experimenter using a personal computer from a ground-based station either locally or over normal telephone lines. An Attitude Control System (ACS) and/or propulsion system is added to XSAT on a mission peculiar basis in order to accommodate the requirements of each specific payload.
NASA Standard GAS Can Satellite
This paper describes a new direction in small low cost spacecraft. This 150 pound satellite provides access to conduct experiments in space on an economical and short term basis. It can be used by commercial as well as scientific institutions. Currently called the XSAT, it was developed by NASA in cooperation with Defense Systems Inc. (DSI) of McLean, Virginia. XSAT provides for experimental payloads up to 50 pounds, 50 watt hours per day, one megabyte data storage, three day command memory and packetized protocol. Structural and thermal designs can handle worst case loads of the STS manned launch vehicle. XSAT can be operated by an experimenter using a personal computer from a ground-based station either locally or over normal telephone lines. An Attitude Control System (ACS) and/or propulsion system is added to XSAT on a mission peculiar basis in order to accommodate the requirements of each specific payload.
