NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 1996-012B
The TSS-1R mission is a reflight of the Tethered Satellite TSS-1 that had been flown on the Space Shuttle mission STS-46 in July of 1992. A protruding bolt had prevented full release of the tether during the TSS-1 mission. The TSS mission equipment consists of the deployer system, the Italian-build satellite, the electrically conductive tether (22km total length) and 6 science instruments. The TSS-1 is to be deployed from a reel in the orbiter payload bay upward (away from Earth) to up to 20 Km (12.5 miles) above the Orbiter. The objectives of this mission are: (1) to verify engineering performance of the Tethered Satellite System (TSS); (2) to determine and to understand the electro-magnetic interaction between the tether/satellite/orbiter system and the ambient space plasma; (3) to investigate and to understand the dynamical forces acting upon a tethered satellite; (4) to demonstrate electrical power generation; and, (5) to develop the capability for future tether applications on the Shuttle and Space Station. The deploying system consists of a motor- driven tether storage reel and level wind system. A separate multipurpose equipment support structure (MPESS) carries all science instruments not integrated on the satellite, with the exception of the Tethered Optical Phenomena (TOP) equipment, which is carried in the crew compartment. The spherical satellite is 1.6 meters in diameter and 6.5 meters in length. The S-band antenna, magnetometers, and Research on Orbital Plasma Electrodynamics (ROPE) equipment are mounted on stationary booms, and the Research on Electrodynamic Tether Effects (RETE) Langmuir probe and dipole field antenna are mounted on 2.5 meter deployable/retractable booms. At the base of the satellite, a swivel joint and a bayonet pin attache the tether to the satellite. A connector routes the tether conductor to an ammeter and then to the satellite's skin. The satellite contained cold gas (nitrogen) thrusters used for deployment, retrieval, and attitude control. The 2.54 mm diameter conducting tether was constructed using Kevlar and Nomex with 10 strands of 34 AWG copper wire and a Teflon sheath. NASA is reponsible for the TSS deployer and systems integration, and Italy for building the satellite. Five hours after deployment began on February 25, 1996, with 19.7 km (of 20.7 planned) of tether released, the tether cable suddenly snapped near the top of the deployment boom. The TSS satellite shot away into a higher orbit. TSS instruments could be re-actived and produced science data for three days until battery power ran out. An independent review panel was formed to review the TSS-1R failure.
Launch Date: 1996-02-25
Launch Vehicle: Shuttle
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral, United States
Mass: 518 kg
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Dr. Dieter K. Bilitza
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Prof. Marino Dobrowolny | Program Scientist | Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche | marino.dobrowolny@ifsi.rm.cnr.it |
Mr. Robert O. McBrayer | Project Manager | NASA Marshall Space Flight Center | |
Dr. Michael A. Calabrese | Program Manager | NASA Headquarters | mcalabre@pop100.gsfc.nasa.gov |
Dr. Stanley D. Shawhan | Program Scientist | NASA Headquarters | |
Prof. Franco Mariani | Program Scientist | Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche | mariani@roma2.infn.it |
Mr. James M. Sisson | Mission Manager | NASA Marshall Space Flight Center | |
Mr. Nobie H. Stone | Project Scientist | NASA Marshall Space Flight Center | |
Dr. Robert A. Hoffman | Program Scientist | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | rhoffman@pop600.gsfc.nasa.gov |
Dr. G. Manarini | Program Manager | Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche |
Independant panel formed to review TSS-1R loss (02/26/96)
Early results from TSS-1R may cause revision to theory (05/23/96)
Report on TSS-1R tether failure released (06/04/96)