NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 1985-048E
Spartan consisted of low-cost, Shuttle-launched, short-duration, sounding-rocket-type payloads. The payloads were retrievable and reusable with a turnaround time of approximately 6 to 9 months. It operated as an autonomous sub-satellite, and the data were stored on an internal tape recorder. Pointing and stabilization were achieved by an attitude control system capable of three-axis stabilized pointing to any target within plus or minus 3 arcmin. Spartan-A, as the first of the series, was intended to demonstrate the low-cost approach and its ability to achieve the desired technical performance in the STS environment. The scientific objective of the spacecraft was to investigate the photon emission processes in clusters of galaxies and to explore the center of our galaxy in the photon energy range of 0.5 to 15 keV. The spacecraft allowed the instrument to scan various cosmic sources at rates of 10 to 20 arcsec per second.
Launch Date: 1985-06-17
Launch Vehicle: Shuttle
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral, United States
Mass: 1100 kg
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Dr. H. Kent Hills
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Mr. John A. Glaab | Program Manager | NASA Headquarters | |
Mr. David J. Shrewsberry | Mission Manager | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | dave.shrewsberry@ccmime.gsfc.nasa.gov |
Dr. Gilbert G. Fritz | Mission Scientist | US Naval Research Laboratory | gil.fritz@nrl.navy.mil |
Dr. Raymond G. Cruddace | Mission Scientist | US Naval Research Laboratory | cruddace@xip.nrl.navy.mil |
Dr. Werner M. Neupert | Project Scientist | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | werner.neupert@noaa.gov |
Dr. Louis J. Kaluzienski | Program Scientist | NASA Headquarters |