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ILRS Home  Satellite Missions List of Satellites STARSHINE Satellite Information
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STARSHINE
Jump to: Mission Objectives, Mission Instrumentation, Mission Parameters, Additional Information
Mission Photos:
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STARSHINE-1 at NRL (Courtesy of STARSHINE home page) |
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STARSHINE-2 satellite and diagram |
STARSHINE-3 satellite and diagram |
Mission Objectives:
The STARSHINE (STARSHINE stands for Student Tracked Atmospheric Research Satellite Heuristic International Networking Experiment) series of satellites were student participatory missions sponsored by NRL. STARSHINE-1, launched in 1999, was a spherical satellite that carried nearly 900 small mirrors polished by students from around the world. Once launched, the network of over 20,000 students from 18 countries tracked the satellite through the glinting of sunlight off the mirrors and networked the data collection over the Internet. The students used the observations to calculate air drag, solar activity, and other orbit related properties.
The surfaces of these satellites were nearly covered with small mirrors polished by students for ground-based visual observation in twilight. Small retroreflectors were also being placed on the surface to support laser ranging. NRL has organized student-observing activities around the world to participate. The STARSHINE launches were considered launches of opportunity; STARSHINE-2 launched December 05, 2001 from the Space Shuttle and STARSHINE-3 on September 30, 2001 from a rocket at Vandeberg Air Force Base.
STARSHINE-2 and -3 also had a system to spin the satellite to improve the flash rate and included a few laser retroreflectors to introduce the students to SLR. The satellite were built from spare flight hardware. Students participated by polishing the mirrors used on the satellite.
Mission Instrumentation:
STARSHINE-2 and -3 had the following instrumentation onboard:
- STARSHINE-2:
- 858 mirrors
- Retroreflector array
- Cold gas spin system
- STARSHINE-3:
- 1500 mirrors
- Retroreflector array
- Amateur radio telemetry transmitter
Mission Parameters:
| STARSHINE-2, -3 Parameters | ||
| STARSHINE-2 | STARSHINE-3 | |
| Sponsor: | NRL | NRL |
| Expected Life: | 1 year | 1 year |
| Primary Applications: | Thermospheric research, student experiments | Thermospheric research, student experiments |
| COSPAR ID: | 0105401 | 0104301 |
| SIC Code: | N/A | 4903 |
| NORAD SSC Code: | 26996 | 26929 |
| Launch Date: | December 05, 2001 | September 30, 2001 |
| Decay Date: | April 26, 2002 | January 21, 2003 |
| RRA Diameter: | 31 cm | |
| RRA Shape: | circular | circular |
| Reflectors: | 31 corner cubes | 31 corner cubes |
| Orbit: | Circular | Circular |
| Inclination: | 39 degrees | 67.048 degrees |
| Eccentricity: | 0.000066 | |
| Perigee: | 380 km | 470 km |
| Weight: | 40 kg | 91 kg |
Additional Information:
- Web sites:
- Publications:
- Kessel, R., "Development and on-orbit performance of moderate-cost spherical retroreflector arrays for the STARSHINE program", Presentation to 13th International Workshop on Laser Ranging, Washington, DC, USA, October 7-11, 2002.
