world spacecraft digest by jos heyman 2000 … of thelma, louise and jak in opal jak (the initials...

WORLD SPACECRAFT DIGEST by Jos Heyman 2000 Version: 9 July 2016 © Copyright Jos Heyman

2000 001A (26052) Name: DSCS III-11 Country: USA Launch date: 21 January 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Atlas IIA

Orbit: geostationary at 103°E Military communications satellite as described for 1982 106B. Also known as USA-148 and DSCS III-B8. In February 2014 it was moved to 150oE.

2000 002A (26056) Name: Galaxy-10R Country: USA Launch date: 25 January 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 42L

Orbit: geostationary at 123°W

Communications satellite as described for 1983 065A but fitted with 24 transponders in the C band and 24 transponders in the Ku band.

2000 003A (26058) Name: Zhongxing-22 Country: China Launch date: 25 January 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Xichang Launch vehicle: CZ 3A

Orbit: geostationary at 98°E

Military communications satellite based on the DFH-3 platform. The 2300 kg satellite was also known as Feng Ho (FH)-1.

2000 004A (26061) Name: Jawsat Country: USA Launch date: 27 January 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Minotaur 1

Orbit: 742 x 793 km, inclination: 100.2°

Jawsat was a joint USAF Academy/Weber State University satellite of 64 kg carrying a plasma experiment and a particle detector. The satellite is also used for technology tests. It also released OCSE (2000 004B) and OPAL (2000 004C). Also known as P98-1, Oscar-39 and WO-39.

2000 004B (26062) Name: OCSE Country: USA Launch date: 27 January 2000 Re-entry: 5 March 2001 Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Minotaur 1


The Optical Calibration Sphere Experiment (OCSE) was a 3.5 m diameter inflatable sphere for calibrating lasers at the AFRL Starfire Optical Range. The 22 kg satellite, with a canister attached to it, was ejected from Jawsat (2000 004A).

2000 004C (26063) Name: OPAL Country: USA Launch date: 27 January 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Minotaur 1


The Orbiting Picosat Automated Launcher (OPAL) was a 13 kg satellite developed by Stanford University which carried an accelerometer and a magnetometer as well as six smaller ‘picosat’ satellites: MEMS-1 and -2 (2000 004H), Thelma (2000 004J), JAK (2000 004K), Louise (2000 004L) and Stensat (2000 004M). OPAL was ejected from Jawsat (2000 004A). OPAL was also known as Satellite Quick Research Testbed (SQUIRT)-2, Oscar-38 and OO-38.

2000 004D (26064) Name: FalconSat-1 Country: USA Launch date: 27 January 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Minotaur 1


FalconSat-1 was a 52 kg satellite developed by the USAF Academy carrying the Charging Hazards and Wake Studies-Long Duration (CHAWS-LD) experiment. The satellite was also known as S99-2.

2000 004E (26065) Name: Asusat Country: USA Launch date: 27 January 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Minotaur 1


Asusat was a 5 kg satellite developed by the Arizona State University and fitted with an Earth imager and an amateur radio transponder. It was also known as Oscar-37 and AO-37. The entire mission was designated as Space Test Program P98-1.

2000 004H (26080) Name: MEMS-1 and -2 Country: USA Launch date: 7 February 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Minotaur 1


The two Micro Electro-mechanical System (MEMS) satellites of 0.25 kg each were ejected from OPAL (2000 004C). They were connected by a 30 m tether and carried out an intersatellite communications experiment. They were also known as Picosat-1 and 2 and MEPSI-1.

2000 004J (26091) Name: Thelma Country: USA Launch date: 11 February 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Minotaur 1


Thelma, Louise and JAK

Thelma was a Santa Clara University Artemis team satellite with a mass of 0.5 kg and carrying a VLF wave experiment. It was ejected from OPAL (2000 004C). Probably also known as Picosat-3.

2000 004K (26092) Name: JAK Country: USA Launch date: 11 February 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Minotaur 1


Fitting of Thelma, Louise and JAK in Opal

JAK (the initials of the infant son of the satellite team’s adviser) was a Santa Clara University Artemis team satellite which had mass of 0.2 kg and was ejected from OPAL (2000 004C). Probably also known as Picosat-4.

2000 004L (26093) Name: Louise Country: USA Launch date: 12 February 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Minotaur 1

Orbit: 730 x 780 km, inclination: 100.2° Louise was a Santa Clara University Artemis team satellite with a mass of 0.5 kg and carrying a VLF wave experiment. It was ejected from OPAL (2000 004C) and was probably also known as Picosat-5.

2000 004M (26094) Name: Stensat Country: USA Launch date: 12 February 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Minotaur 1

Orbit: 740 X 792 km, inclination: 100.2°

Stensat was a 0.5 kg Amsat satellite with an amateur radio transponder which was ejected from OPAL (2000 004C). Probably also known as Picosat-6.

2000 005A (26067) Name: Progress M1-1 Country: Russia Launch date: 1 February 2000 Re-entry: 27 April 2000 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


The Progress M1 cargo transfer spacecraft was a development of Progress M as described for 1989 066A with an increased propellant load but a cargo capacity reduced to 2280 kg. Progress M1-1 docked with the rear port of Mir/Kvant-1 (1986 017A) on 3 February 2000. It was used to raise the orbit of the space station. Progress M1-1 undocked on 26 April 2000.

2000 006A (26069) Name: Kosmos-2369 Country: Russia Launch date: 3 February 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Zenit 2

Orbit: 848 x 854 km, inclination: 71.0° Tselina 2 military electronic intelligence gathering satellite as described for 1984 106A.

2000 007A (26071) Name: Hispasat 1-C Country: Spain Launch date: 3 February 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Atlas IIAS


Communications satellite owned by Hispasat and based on the Alcatel Spacebus 3000, carrying 24 transponders in the Ku band. This satellite, with a mass of 3100 kg was different from the previous two Hispasat satellites as described for 1992 060A. In January 2014 it was moved to 83.7oW whilst it was renamed as Hispasat 84W-1 in Febuary 2016.

2000 008A (26081) Name: Globalstar FM-60 Country: USA Launch date: 8 February 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Delta 7420

Orbit: 914 x 932 km, inclination: 52.0° Mobile communications satellite as described for 1998 008A.

2000 008B (26082) Name: Globalstar FM-62 Country: USA Launch date: 8 February 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Delta 7420


2000 008C (26083) Name: Globalstar FM-63 Country: USA Launch date: 8 February 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Delta 7420


2000 008D (26084) Name: Globalstar FM-64 Country: USA Launch date: 8 February 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Delta 7420


2000 009A (26086) Name: Dumsat Country: Russia Launch date: 8 February 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U/Fregat

Orbit: 581 x 606 km, inclination: 64.8° This satellite was a 1000 kg dummy mass ejected from the Fregat upper stage (2000 009B). It has also been referred to as Gabaritno Vesovoj Maket Poleznoj Nagruzki (GVMPN).

--- Name: IRDT-1 Country: Germany Launch date: 8 February 2000 Re-entry: 8 February 2000 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U/Fregat Orbit: sub-orbital to 600 km

The Inflatable Reentry and Descent Technology (IRDT)-1 payload was ejected from the Fregat upper stage (2000 009B) prior to re-entry. It tested an inflatable heatshield for the re-entry of a future Russian Mars mission. It had a diameter 3.6 m and was contained in a canister with a mass of 110 kg. The heatshield had three stone samples embedded as part of ESA’s Stones-2 experiment to evaluate the re-entry of meteorites. After landing near Orenburg, Russia, the recovery beacon did not operate and the payload was not located until 14 February 2000. Although the Fregat upper stage made 6 orbits, IRDT did not complete a full orbit as a separate spacecraft.

Recovery site

--- Name: Astro E Country: Japan Launch date: 10 February 2000 Re-entry: n.a. Launch site: Kagoshima Launch vehicle: Mu 5 Orbit: failed to orbit

Astro-E was to carry out astronomical observations in the X-ray band, concentrating on X-ray background radiation, supernovea remnants, black holes etc. The 1600 kg satellite carried four identical telescopes for X-ray imaging spectroscopy, one telescope for X-ray spectroscopy and an X-ray microcalorimeter. The satellite failed to orbit as the first stage of the launch vehicle failed. The satellite re-entered during the first orbit.

2000 010A (26088) Name: STS-99 Country: USA Launch date: 11 February 2000 Re-entry: 22 February 2000 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS


Crewed spaceflight with astronauts K. Kregel (Cmdr.), D. Gorie (Pilot), Janice Voss (Payl. Cmdr.), J. Kavandi, G. Thiele (ESA) and M. Mohri (Japan), all Mission Specialists, using the orbiter Endeavour as described for 1981 034A. The objective of the mission was to undertake the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) to obtain a three dimensional map of 70% of the global surface. The payload, which was fitted on a Spacelab pallet as described for 1983 116A, consisted of: 1. the Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (IF-SAR), also referred to as Shuttle Imaging Radar

(SIR)-C as described for STS-59 (1994 020A); 2. the X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (X-SAR) as described for STS-59 (1994 020A); 3. Developmental Test Objective (DTO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A):

• DTO-686: Heat Exchange Unit Evaluation;

• DTO-690: Urine Collection Device;

• DTO-700-14: Single String Global Positioning System with PGSC and GPS;

• DTO-700-17A: High Definition Camcorder Demonstration;

• DTO-805: Crosswind Landing Performance; 4. Detailed Supplementary Objective (DSO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A):

• DSO-206: Effect of Spaceflight on Bone, Muscle and Immune Function;

• DSO-493: Monitoring Latent Virus Reactivation and Shedding in Astronauts;

• DSO-496: Individual Susceptibility to Post Spaceflight Orthostatic Intolerance;

• DSO-498: Spaceflight and Immune Functions; and

• DSO-802: Educational Activities Objective 2. After a flight of 11 days, 5 hours, 38 minutes the orbiter landed at the Kennedy Space Centre.

2000 011A (26089) Name: Garuda-1 Country: Indonesia Launch date: 12 February 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-3


Mobile communications satellite system owned by Asia Cellular Satellites (AceS), a consortium of Indonesia’s Pasifik Satellite Nusantara, Thailand’s Jasmine International Corp and the Philippines Long Distance Telephone Company. The 4500 kg satellite was based on the Lockheed Martin A2100 platform and was fitted with transponders in the C and L bands with a capacity for 11,000 simultaneous telephone connections.

2000 012A (26095) Name: Superbird-4 Country: Japan Launch date: 18 February 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 44LP


Communications satellite owned by Satellite Communications. The Hughes HS-601HP platform carried 23 transponders operating in the Ku band and 6 transponders operating in the Ka band. It had a mass of 4057 kg.

2000 013A (26098) Name: Ekspress A-2 Country: Russia Launch date: 12 March 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-2M Orbit: geostationary at 80oE

Communications satellite based on the Ekspress satellite as described for 1994 067A and fitted with 12 transponders operating in the C band and 5 transponders operating in the Ku band. Originally referred to as Ekspress-6A, this second generation satellite had a mass of 2600 kg. In August 2014 the satellite was moved to 145oE.

2000 014A (26102) Name: MTI Country: USA Launch date: 12 March 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Taurus 1110


The Multispectral Thermal Imaging (MTI) satellite carried a telescope that collected images of the Earth in 15 spectral bands for use in military treaty monitoring applications as well as a high energy X-ray spectrometer (HXRS). The satellite had a mass of 587 kg. Also known as P97-3.

--- Name: ICO-1 Int. Agency: ICO Launch date: 12 March 2000 Re-entry: n.a. Launch site: Odessey Launch vehicle: Zenit 3SL Orbit: failed to orbit

Communications satellite as described for 2001 026A. The 2700 kg satellite was to be placed in an orbit of 10008 x 10018 km with an inclination of 45.1o. The second stage of the launch vehicle malfunctioned. The launch took place at 154oW, 0o, south of Hawaii.

2000 015A (26106) Name: Dumsat Country: Russia Launch date: 20 March 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U/Fregat


Test flight of the Soyuz/Fregat launch vehicle that put a mass model of the Cluster 2 satellite in orbit. The mass model had a mass of 2382 kg. It was also known as Kluster 2-Gabaritno Vesovoj Maket (GVM).

2000 016A (26107) Name: AsiaStar Country: USA Launch date: 21 March 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 5G


Communications satellite as described for 1998 063A.

2000 016B (26108) Name: Insat 3-B Country: India Launch date: 21 March 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 5G


Communications built by the Indian Space Research Organisation. The 970 kg satellite carried 12 transponders in the C band, 3 transponders in the Ku band and a single transponder in the S band. Unlike previous Insat satellites, it did not carry meteorological imaging instruments.

2000 017A (26113) Name: Image Country: USA Launch date: 25 March 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Delta 7326


The 494 kg Imager for Magnetopause to Auroral Global Exploration (Image) spacecraft studied the radio wavelength emissions from the magnetospheric plasma. It was also known as Midex-1 and Explorer-78. The instruments included: 1. The High Energy Neutral Atom (HENA) imager to synthesize images from the arrival directions and

measure mass/energy of each neutral particle; 2. The Medium Energy Neutral Atom (MENA) imager to synthesize images from the arrival directions

and measure mass/energy of each neutral particle; 3. The Low Energy Neutral Atom (LENA) imager to synthesize images from the arrival directions and

measure mass/energy of each neutral particle; 4. The Far Ultraviolet (FUV) imager, comprising the Wide Angle Camera (WIC), the Spectroscopic

Imager (SI) and the Geocorona (GEO) imager; 5. The Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) imager to measure the population of He+; and 6. The Radio Plasma Imager (RPI), a pulsed transmitter connected to four 246 m long antennas.

2000 018A (26116) Name: Soyuz TM-30 Country: Russia Launch date: 4 April 2000 Re-entry: 16 June 2000 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U

Orbit: 329 x 333 km, inclination: 51.7° Crewed spaceflight with cosmonauts S. Zalyotin (Cmdr.) and A. Kaleri (Fl. Eng.) using a Soyuz TM spacecraft as described for 1986 035A. Their call sign was Yenesey and they were the twenty eighth permanent (EO-28) crew of the space station. The spacecraft docked with the front port of Mir (1986 017A) on 6 April 2000. On 12 May 2000 the cosmonauts made an EVA of 4 hours, 52 minutes during which they inspected and made repairs to the exterior of the space station. The spacecraft undocked on 16 June 2000 and landed 45 km south east of Arkalyk. The mission lasted 72 days, 19 hours, 42 minutes.

2000 019A (26244) Name: Sesat-1 Int. Agency: Eutelsat Launch date: 17 April 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-2M Orbit: geostationary at 48oE

The Siberia Europe Satellite (Sesat) was owned by Eutelsat and built by NPO-PM using the MSS-2500-GSO platform. It was fitted with 18 transponders in the Ku band. The Sesat satellites provided communication services to Siberia and adjacent areas. The satellite had a mass of 2400 kg. It was later moved to 16oE and to 14.5oE in January 2012 and was renamed as Eutelsat 16-C in March 2012.

2000 020A (26298) Name: Galaxy-4R Country: USA Launch date: 19 April 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 42L Orbit: geostationary at 99oW

The Panamsat owned Galaxy-4R communications satellite was based on the Hughes HS-601HP platform. The 3668 kg satellite was fitted with 24 transponders in the C band and 24 transponders in the Ku band.

2000 021A (26301) Name: Progress M1-2 Country: Russia Launch date: 25 April 2000 Re-entry: 24 October 2000 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U

Orbit: 203 x 248 km, inclination: 51.7° Cargo transfer spacecraft as described for 2000 005A. Progress M1-2 docked with the rear port of Mir/Kvant-1 (1986 017A) on 28 April 2000. It undocked on 15 October 2000.

2000 022A (26352) Name: GEOS-11 Country: USA Launch date: 3 May 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Atlas IIA


Meteorological satellite as described for 1994 022A. It was retired in December 2011.

2000 023A (26354) Name: Kosmos-2370 Country: Russia Launch date: 3 May 2000 Re-entry: 4 May 2001 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U

Orbit: 229 x 279 km, inclination: 64.8° Neman military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1991 049A.

2000 024A (26356) Name: IMEWS-20 Country: USA Launch date: 8 May 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Titan 402B


Military early warning satellite as described for 1989 046A. The satellite was also known as USA-149.

2000 025A (26360) Name: Navstar 2R-4 Country: USA Launch date: 11 May 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Delta 7925

Orbit: 19884 x 20208 km, inclination: 54.9° Navigational satellite as described for 1997 035A. Also known as USA-150, Navstar-47, Navstar-51 and SVN-51.

2000 026A (26365) Name: IKA-1 Country: Russia Launch date: 16 May 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Rockot/Briz KM


The Iskusstvenniy Kosmicheskiy Apparat (IKA)-1 was a simulator satellite based on the Iridium communications satellite, with a mass of 657 kg. In some reference sources it is referred to as Simsat.

2000 026B (26366) Name: IKA-2 Country: Russia Launch date: 16 May 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Rockot/Briz KM

Orbit: 536 x 550 km, inclination: 86.4° Simulator satellite as described for 2000 026A.

2000 027A (26368) Name: STS-101 Country: USA Launch date: 19 May 2000 Re-entry: 29 May 2000 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS


Crewed spaceflight with astronauts J. Halsell (Cmdr.), S. Horowitz (Pilot), S. Helms, M. Weber, James Voss, Y. Usachev (Russia), and J. Williams (all Mission Specialists) using the orbiter Atlantis as described for 1981 034A. The objective was to undertake the International Space Station (ISS)-2A.2a mission and the orbiter docked with the PMA-2 docking port of the International Space Station (1998 067A) on 21 May 2000. The shuttle carried a double Spacehab module (FU2 and FU3) as described for 1993 037A, with logistics and cargo, as well as critical spares. Included was the Integrated Cargo Carrier, an unpressurised flatbed pallet to carry 1300 kg of cargo. In addition the orbiter carried the following experiments: 1. the BioTube precursor experiment to test new technologies for the BioTube magnetic field

apparatus to be carried on STS-107 (2003 003A); 2. the Mission to America’s Remarkable Schools (MARS) payload, 20 experiments from schools

across the USA, stored inside a Complex Autonomous Payload CAP)/Getaway special canister as described for STS-3 (1982 022A);

3. the Protein Crystal Growth/Biotechnology Ambient Generic (PCG-BAG) payloads to grow high quality protein crystals in microgravity, comprising 504 individual experiments stored in 8 containers;

4. the Commercial Protein Crystal Growth (CPCG)-17 experiments as described for STS-49 (1992 026A);

5. the Astroculture (ASC)-8 experiment as described for STS-50 (1992 034A); 6. the Micro Wireless Instrumentation System (Micro WIS) and HEDS Technology Demonstrations of to

undertake real time environmental control and life supports systems operations on board of the orbiter;

7. a number of student experiments stored in Space Experiment Module canisters SEM-06 as described for STS-80 (1996 065A);

• the Idaho Tubers in space;

• the Seeds/CREPLD II experiment;

• the Effects of Microgravity on Samples/Gadget experiment;

• the Yeast in Space experiment;

• the Effects of Cosmic Radiation experiment;

• the effects of Space on Fluids and Seeds experiment;

• the Germinar-2 experiment;

• the Seeds and Sea Monkeys in Space experiment;

• Electronics and Magnetic Recording Devices experiment;

• Cosmic Ray Detectors; 8. Developmental Test Objective (DTO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A):

• DTO-623: Cabin Air Monitoring;


• DTO-700-21: SIGI Orbital Attitude Readiness;

• DTO-805: Crosswind Landing Performance;

• DTO-847: Solid State Star Tracker Size Limitations; 9. Detailed Supplementary Objective (DSO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A):

• DSO-493: Monitoring Latent Virus Reactivation and Shedding in Astronauts; and

• DSO-498: Spaceflight and Immune Functions. On 22 May 2000 Voss and Williams performed an EVA of 6 hours, 44 minutes during which they secured the US crane brought to the space station on STS-96 (1999 030A), added components to the Russian Strela crane, replaced some antennas as well as installed additional EVA handrails. The crew entered the space station on 23 May 2000. On 27 May 2000 the orbiter undocked. The orbiter landed at the Kennedy Space Centre after a flight of 9 days, 20 hours, 9 minutes.

2000 028A (26369) Name: Eutelsat W-4 Int. Agency: Eutelsat . Launch date: 24 May 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Atlas IIIA


Communications satellite as described for 1998 056A. The satellite was fitted with 31 transponders in the Ku band. In March 2012 it was renamed as Eutelsat 36-A.

2000 029A (26372) Name: Gorizont-33 Country: Russia Launch date: 6 June 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/Briz-M

Orbit: geostationary at 145°E Communications satellite as described for 1978 118A.

2000 030A (26374) Name: TSX-5 Country: USA Launch date: 7 June 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Pegasus XL


The 250 kg Tri Service Experiment (TSX)-5 satellite, also known as P95-2, carried two experiments. The Space Technology Research Vehicle (STRV)-2 experiment comprised a British developed medium microwave imager (MWIR) with an associated laser communications experiment. The MWIR consisted of a reflecting telescope, six selectable filters and long linear array detectors. The instrument tested the detection of military aircraft in flight by comparing two images taken over the same area at slightly different times. The Compact Environmental Anomaly Sensor (CEASE) tested equipment to measure the near-spacecraft environment. The launch vehicle was released from the L-1011 carrier aircraft. The TSX series was a follow on of the STEP series, commenced with STEP-0 (1994 017A).

2000 031A (26378) Name: Ekspress A-3 Country: Russia Launch date: 24 June 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-2M


2000 032A (26382) Name: Feng Yun 2-B Country: China Launch date: 25 June 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Xichang Launch vehicle: CZ 3

Orbit: geostationary at 105°E Meteorological satellite as described for 1997 029A. It was later transferred to 123oE.

2000 033A (26384) Name: Nadezhda-6 Country: Russia Launch date: 28 June 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M

Orbit: 677 x 703 km, inclination: 98.1° Civilian navigation satellite as described for 1989 050A. The payload also included the Kospas-9 transponder as described for 1982 066A.

2000 033B (26385) Name: Tzinghua-1 Country: China Launch date: 28 June 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


Tzinghua-1, owned by the Tzinghua University of Beijing and built by Surrey Satellite, carried a multispectral Earth imaging camera to demonstrate the Disaster Monitoring Constellation of microsatellites. The satellite had a mass of 50 kg.

2000 033C (26386) Name: SNAP-1 Country: United Kingdom Launch date: 28 June 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


The Surrey Nanosatellite Applications Platform (SNAP)-1 satellite, with a mass of 6 kg, tested a system to inspect and rendez-vous other satellites in space. It flew in formation with Tzinghua-1 (2000 033B).

2000 034A (26388) Name: TDRS-8 Country: USA Launch date: 30 June 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Atlas IIA Orbit: geostationary at 171oW

TDRS-8 was the first of three new second generation satellites in the series built to replace the satellites in the existing constellation, as described for 1983 026B. The 2910 kg satellites were based on the Hughes 601 platform and carried, in addition to the C band, S band and Ku band transponders also a transponder with Ka band capability.

2000 035A (26390) Name: Sirius-1 Country: United States Launch date: 30 June 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-3


Sirius-1, owned by Sirius Satellite Radio, provided direct radio broadcasts on 50 channels of commercial music and 50 channels of news, sports and other information across the continental USA. The 3766 kg satellite operated in the S band and was built by Space Systems/Loral using the LS-1300 platform. The three satellites of the Sirius system were placed in elliptical orbits so that they provided a 24 hour service.

2000 036A (26394) Name: Kosmos-2371 Country: Russia Launch date: 5 July 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-2M

Orbit: geostationary at 80°E Potok communications and data relay satellite as described for 1982 044A.

2000 037A (26400) Name: Zvezda Country: Russia Launch date: 12 July 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K


The Zvezda (Star) module for the International Space Station (ISS)-1R flight. Previously known as Service Module, the Russian built module was based on the Salyut design and, also known as Dolgovremennaya Orbitalnaya Stantsiya (DOS)-8, had a length of 13.10 m. It carried solar panels with a span of 29.56 m. The module, with a mass of 19,150 kg, comprised of the Perekhodniy Otsek (PkhO) (Transfer Compartment), the Rabochiy Otsek (RO) (Work Compartment) and the Agregatniy Otsek (AO) (Equipment Module) at the aft end. An unpressurised Assembly Compartment around the Equipment Module, held external equipment, propellant tanks, thrusters and communications antennas. Zvezda had four docking ports: three at the front (forward, up and down) and one at the end. Inside the module were the life support systems, including a water recycling system that turned waste water into oxygen, flight control systems, communications systems and propulsion systems. It also included living quarters with a kitchen, sleeping quarters for three, a toilet, a refrigerator and freezer, a table, a treadmill and a stationary bicycle. There were also 14 windows. After launch it was placed into a temporary orbit at an altitude of 350 km to conduct tests prior to the docking On 26 July 2000 Zvezda was attached to the International Space Station (1998 067A).

2000 038A (26402) Name: Echostar-6 Country: USA Launch date: 14 July 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Atlas IIAS


Communications satellite as described for 1999 050A. The satellite was originally ordered as Sky-1B and MCI-2. In April 2013 the satellite was moved to 96.2oW to operate as Berumdasat-1 for the Bermuda government .

2000 039A (26404) Name: MITA Country: Italy Launch date: 15 July 2000 Re-entry: 15 August 2001 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


The Microsatellite Italiano a Technologia Avanzanta (MITA) was a 170 kg satellite to observe energy particles in space and nuclei of light elements in the Earth’s atmosphere. The instruments included the Nina instrument and the Micro Tech Sensor for Attitude and Orbit Measurement System (MTS-AOMS), which combined the facilities of Earth and star sensing and magnetic field measurements in one instrument.

2000 039B (26405) Name: Champ Country: Germany Launch date: 15 July 2000 Re-entry: 19 July 2010 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


The Challenging Minisatellite Payload (Champ) gathered high precision gravity and magnetic field data of the Earth over a period of 5 years. It was fitted with a magnetometer, an atmospheric/magnetic field ion sensor, an accelerometer to measure gravity forces to the tenth of a nano-G, a laser retro-reflector and an ion driftmeter. Champ had a mass of 500 kg.

2000 039C (26406) Name: Rubin-1 Country: Germany Launch date: 15 July 2000 Re-entry: 30 August 2001 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


Rubin-1 tested methodologies to track other satellites. The 37 kg satellite remained attached to the upper stage of the launch vehicle.

2000 040A (26407) Name: Navstar 2R-5 Country: USA Launch date: 16 July 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Delta 7925

Orbit: 19926 x 20438 km, inclination: 54.9° Navigational satellite as described for 1997 035A. Also known as USA-151, Navstar-44, Navstar-48 and SVN-44.

2000 041A (26410) Name: Samba Int. Agency: ESA Launch date: 16 July 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U/Fregat


Samba was the first of four replacement satellites for the Cluster satellites that failed to orbit on 4 June 1996. Also known as Cluster FM-7 the 1200 kg satellite carried: 1. the Active Spacecraft Potential Control Experiment (ASPOC) in which positive indium ions are shot

in order to neutralise the build up of positive charges on the spacecraft; 2. the Cluster Ion Spectroscopy (CIS) instrument to measure charge, mass and distribution of hot and

cold ions; 3. the Electron Drift Instrument (EDI), to measure plasma drift velocity; 4. the Flux Gate Magnetometer (FGM) to provide accurate high-time resolution measurements of the

magnetosphere and the upstream solar wind; 5. the Plasma Electron and Current Experiment (PEACE), an electron sensor for the three dimensional

measurement of the density, temperature and velocity of electrons; 6. the Research with Adaptive Particle Imaging Detectors (RAPID) to monitor the arrival direction of very

high-energy electrons and ions; 7. the Digital Wave Processing (DWP) experiment to make in-situ correlations of waves and plasma

densities; 8. the Electric Field and Wave (EFW) experiment to measure the electric field and plasma densities; 9. the Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Field Fluctuation (STAFF) experiment to study magnetic and electric

field fluctuations; 10. the Wide Band Data (WBD) instrument, to investigate electric field and wave forms; and 11. the Waves of High Frequency and Sounder for Probing Electron Density by Relaxation (WHISPER)

experiment to determine electron density and waves. Along with Salsa (2000 041B), Rumba (2000 045A) and Tango (2000 045B), the satellite collected detailed data on the small scale changes in near-Earth space and the interaction between the charged particles of the solar wind and the Earth’s atmosphere.

2000 041B (26411) Name: Salsa Int. Agency: ESA Launch date: 16 July 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U/Fregat

Orbit: 16716 x 121241 km, inclination: 90.5° Astronomical satellite as described for 2000 041A. Also known as Cluster FM-6.

2000 042A (26414) Name: MightySat 2-1 Country: USA Launch date: 19 July 2000 Re-entry: 12 November 2002 Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Minotaur 1


Also known as P99-1 and Sindri, MightySat 2-1 was a 120 kg technology satellite to test advanced space systems technologies including: 1. the Solar Array Concentrator (SAC) which focuses more light on each solar cell, thereby increasing

the solar energy available; 2. the Naval Research Laboratory Space Ground Link System Transponder (NSX), an experimental

light weight communications system; 3. the Shape Memory Thermal Tailoring Experiment (SMATTE), an experimental thermal control

system; 4. the Quad C40 Processor, to test the impact of space radiation on new forms of microelectronics; and 5. the Fourier Transform Hyperspectral Imager (FTHSI) to record the full spectra without time delays. On 7 September 2001 the satellite released Picosat-7/8 (2000 042C). In addition the platform itself demonstrated new technology in flexibility, modularity and thermal control.

2000 042C (26904) Name: Picosat 7/8 Country: USA Launch date: 7 September 2001 Re-entry: 11 July 2002 Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Minotaur 1

Orbit: 511 x 539 km, inclination: 97.8° The two 0.25kg Picosats were released from MightySat 2-1 (2000 042A) on 7 September 2001. They were tethered by a 30 m line and have been considered as a single spacecraft. They are believed to be similar to MEMS-1 and -2 (2000 004H) and have also been referred to as MEMS 2-A and –B and MEPSI-2.

2000 043A (26451) Name: Panamsat-9 Country: USA Launch date: 28 July 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Odessey Launch vehicle: Zenit 3SL


Communications satellite owned by Pan American Satellite. The satellite was based on the Hughes HS-601HP platform and carried 24 transponders in the C band and 24 transponders in the Ku band. The satellite had a mass of 2389 kg. The Odessey platform was located at 154oW, 0oN. On 1 February 2007 the satellite was renamed as Intelsat-9. It was moved to 43oW in January 2013.

2000 044A (26461) Name: Progress M1-3 Country: Russia Launch date: 6 August 2000 Re-entry: 1 November 2000 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


Cargo transfer spacecraft as described for 2000 005A. Progress M1-3 docked with the rear Zvezda port of ISS (1998 067A) on 9 August 2000. The flight was also known as ISS-1P. The spacecraft carried supplies for the space station as well as fuel for attitude control. It undocked on 1 November 2000.

2000 045A (26463) Name: Rumba Int. Agency: ESA Launch date: 9 August 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U/Fregat


2000 045B (26464) Name: Tango Int. Agency: ESA Launch date: 9 August 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U/Fregat


2000 046A (26469) Name: Brasilsat B-4 Country: Brazil Launch date: 16 August 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 44LP


Communications satellite as described for 1994 049A.

2000 046B (26470) Name: Nilesat-102 Country: Egypt Launch date: 16 August 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 44LP


2000 047A (26473) Name: Lacrosse-4 Country: USA Launch date: 17 August 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Titan 403B

Orbit: 685 x 692 km, inclination: 68.0° Military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1988 106B. Also referred to as USA-152. NROL-11 and Onyx.

2000 048A (26475) Name: DM-F3 Country: USA Launch date: 23 August 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Delta 3 (8930)


The Delta 3 launch vehicle carried an instrumented payload simulator that closely matched a typical satellite carried by the launch vehicle. Known as Delta Mission Flight 3 (DM-F3), the 4348 kg payload recorded 120 launch parameters and was covered with reflective and distinctive patterns for visual and laser tracking. For the purposes of the mission, it was sufficient to place the payload in a geostationary transfer orbit. The payload did not enter into an appropriate geostationary transfer orbit.

2000 049A (26477) Name: Raduga 1-5 Country: Russia Launch date: 28 August 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-2

Orbit: geostationary at 49°E Military communications satellite as described for 1989 048A.

2000 050A (26481) Name: Zi Yuan 2-A Country: China Launch date: 1 September 2000 Re-entry: 11 March 2016 Launch site: Taiyuan Launch vehicle: CZ 4B


Remote sensing satellite as described for 1999 057A. The satellite was totally owned by China. It has also been suggested that the Zi Yuan 2 series was a cover for a military reconnaissance satellite series known as Jian Bing 3, with ZY 2-A being known as Jian Bing 3-1. The satellite was equipped with CCD cameras and an infrared multi-spectral scanner capable of generating 2m resolution satellite images and transferring them to the ground in real-time. The Jian Bing 3 was an experimental platform for a military space based radar, also identified as Project 863. The satellites were operational for 2 to 3 years.

2000 051A (26483) Name: Sirius-2 Country: USA Launch date: 5 September 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-3

Orbit: 24597 x 46971 km, inclination: 63.4° Direct radio broadcasting satellite as described for 2000 035A.

2000 052A (26487) Name: Eutelsat W-1R Int. Agency: Eutelsat . Launch date: 6 September 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 44P


Communications satellite as described for 1998 056A. The satellite was fitted with 28 transponders in the Ku band. The satellite was originally built as Orion-2 and was briefly referred to by Eutelsat as Ressat. In some references it has been refered to as Eutelsat W-1, which had been destroyed in a fire. It later became Eurobird-4A. It was moved to 4oE and was renamed as Eutelsat 4-A in March 2012.

2000 053A (26489) Name: STS-106 Country: USA Launch date: 8 September 2000 Re-entry: 20 September 2000 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS


Crewed spaceflight with astronauts T. Wilcutt (Cmdr.), S. Altman (Pilot), D. Burbank, E. Lu, Y. Malenchenko (Russia), B.Morukov (Russia) and R. Mastracchio (all Mission Specialist) using the orbiter Atlantis as described for 1981 034A. The objective was to undertake the International Space Station (ISS)-2A.2b mission and the orbiter docked with the PMA-2 docking port of the International Space Station (1998 067A) on 10 September 2000. The flight carried a double Spacehab module (FU2 and FU3), as described for 1993 037A, with logistics and cargo, as well as the Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC) as described for 2000 027A. Other experiments included: 1. the Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA)-14 as described for STS-50 (1992 034A),

supporting two separate experiments; 2. the Micro Wireless Instrumentation System (Micro WIS) and HEDS Technology Demonstrations

experiment, as described for STS-101 (2000 027A); 3. the Protein Crystal Growth (PCG)/Enhanced Gaseous Nitrogen (EGN) Dear, to demonstrate a low

cost platform for conducting a large number of experiments. 4. a number of student experiments stored in Space Experiment Module canisters SEM-08 as

described for STS-80 (1996 065A):

• the Water, Water Everywhere experiment;

• Houston We Have An Eye Problem;

• Investigation of Antibiotic-Resistant Mutations in a Microgravity Environment;

• Rams Space Variety Package;

• The Pittsburgh Steelers In Space;

• Medicine Cabinet In Space;

• Mars Lunch Box;

• Scientific and Instructional Ballast Alternative Device;

• PEESOIL experiment;

• Process of Germination and Plant Growth;

• Spaced Popped Popcorn;

• Bounce and Stretch;

• Germ Killers In Space; 5. The G782 Getaway special as described for STS-3 (1982 022A), also known as Aria-1, and

containing a range of experiments from three schools; 6. Developmental Test Objective (DTO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A):


• DTO-700-21: SIGI Orbital Attitude Readiness;

• DTO-805: Crosswind Landing Performance; 7. Detailed Supplementary Objective (DSO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A):

• DSO-493: Monitoring Latent Virus Reactivation and Shedding in Astronauts;

• DSO-496: Individual Susceptibility to Post Spaceflight Orthostatic Intolerance;

• DSO-498: Spaceflight and Immune Functions; and

• DSO-499: Eye Movements and Motion Perception Induced by Off-Vertical Axis Rotation at Small Angles of Tilt After Space Flight.

On 11 September 2000 Lu and Malenchenko made an EVA of 6 hours, 14 minutes during which they attached a magnetometer and boom to the Zvezda module as well as connected electrical, data and television cables between the Zvezda and Zarya modules. On 18 September 2000 the orbiter undocked. After a flight of 11 days, 19 hours, 11 minutes the orbiter landed at the Kennedy Space Centre.

2000 054A (26494) Name: Astra-2B Country: Luxembourg Launch date: 14 September 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 5G


Communications satellite owned by the Societe Europeenne des Satellites (SES) and based on the Astrium Eurostar 2000 platform. The 3300 kg satellite carried 28 transponders in the Ku band. The number ‘2’ refers to the geostationary location rather than to the spacecraft generation and the satellite is different from Astra-2A (1998 050A). In February 2013 the satellite was moved to 19.2oE and in February 2014 to 31.5oE..

2000 054B (26495) Name: GE-7 Country: USA Launch date: 14 September 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 5

Orbit: geostationary at 137°W Lockheed Martin built small communications satellite for GE Americom Communications. Based on the A2100 platform, the 912 kg satellite was fitted with 24 transponders in the C band. As part of a merger with SES as SES Americom, the satellite was renamed AMC-7 in November 2001.

2000 055A (26536) Name: NOAA-16 Country: USA Launch date: 21 September 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Titan II


Meteorological satellite as described for 1998 030A. On 6 June 2014 contact with the spacecraft was lost and it was decommissioned on 9 June 2014. It broke up in late November 2015.

2000 056A (26538) Name: Kosmos-2372 Country: Russia Launch date: 25 September 2000 Re-entry: 20 April 2001 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Zenit 2

Orbit: 220 x 364 km, inclination: 64.8° Yenisey military reconnaissance satellite as decribed for 1994 053A.

2000 057A (26545) Name: Tiungsat-1 Country: Malaysia Launch date: 26 September 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Dnepr


TiungSat-1 was Malaysia’s first scientific satellite built by Astronautics Technology, with the assistance of Surrey Satellite Technology of the UK. Named after the small Tiung singing bird of Malaysia, the main objective of the satellite was to provide Malaysian engineers and scientists with an opportunity to get experience in satellite building. The payload of the 52 kg satellite consisted of: 1. the Cosmic Ray Energy Deposition Experiment (CEDEX) which investigated the radiation environment

of the satellite’s orbit; 2. the Ionospheric Space Science experiment, an advanced GPS receiver to be used to accurately

determine the satellite’s position and yield information on the electron density profile of the ionosphere; 3. a wide angle camera for meteorological Earth imaging; and 4. a Narrow Angle Camera system for multispectral Earth imaging with a 120 m resolution. The satellite was also known as Oscar-46 and MO-46.

2000 057B (26546) Name: Megsat-1 Country: Italy Launch date: 26 September 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Dnepr


Research satellite built by MegSat Space. The satellite had a mass of 56 kg and carried an experiment to scan and survey high energy ultraviolet emissions of the aurora and an instrument to verify liquid-to-liquid diffusion in microgravity conditions.

2000 057C (26547) Name: Unisat-1 Country: Italy Launch date: 26 September 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Dnepr


Unisat-1 was a 10 kg experimental satellite developed by the Gruppo di Astrodinamica dell’ Universita degli Study ‘la Sapienza’ (GAUSS). It carried NiMH batteries, a magnetometer, a space debris sensor and a camera.

2000 057D (26548) Name: Saudisat-1A Country: Saudi Arabia Launch date: 26 September 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Dnepr


A 10kg satellite fitted with a store-forward communications payload. Also known as Oscar-41 and SO-41.

2000 057E (26549) Name: Saudisat-1B Country: Saudi Arabia Launch date: 26 September 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Dnepr

Orbit: 640 x 660 km, inclination: 64.6° Store-forward communications satellite as described for 2000 057D. Also known as Oscar-42 and SO-42.

2000 058A (26552) Name: Kosmos-2373 Country: Russia Launch date: 29 September 2000 Re-entry: 14 November 2000 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U

Orbit: 185 x 265 km, inclination: 70.4° Kometa mapping satellite as described for 1981 015A.

2000 059A (26554) Name: GE-1A Country: USA Launch date: 1 October 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-3


Communications satellite as described for 1996 054A. The satellite was fitted with 28 Ku band transponders. As part of a merger with SES as SES Americom, the satellite was renamed Americom Asia Pacific (AAP)-1 in November 2001 and was further renamed as Worldsat-1 in 2004. In 2007 it was renamed NSS-11.

2000 060A (26559) Name: Nsat-110 Country: Japan Launch date: 6 October 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 42L


Communications satellite based on the Lockheed Martin A2100 platform and owned by the Japanese SCC and Jsat networks. The 1669 kg satellite was fitted with 24 Ku band transponders. The satellite was later renamed Superbird-5 and after that JC Sat-110. It was initially also referred to as JC Sat-7.

2000 061A (26561) Name: HETE-2 Country: USA Launch date: 9 October 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kwajalein Launch vehicle: Pegasus XL


The 124 kg High Energy Transient Experiment (HETE)-2 studied gamma ray bursts. It carried the French built Gamma Telescope (Fregate), Wide Field X-ray Monitor (WXM) and two Soft X-ray Cameras (SXC). Also known as Explorer-79. The launch vehicle was released from the L-1011 carrier aircraft.

2000 062A (26563) Name: STS-92 Country: USA Launch date: 11 October 2000 Re-entry: 24 October 2000 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS


Crewed spaceflight with astronauts B. Duffy (Cmdr.), P. Melroy (Pilot), L. Chiao, M. Lopez-Alegria, W. McArthur, J. Wisoff and K. Wakata (Japan) (all Mission Specialists), using the orbiter Discovery as described for 1981 034A. The objective was to undertake the International Space Station (ISS)-3A mission and the orbiter docked with the PMA-2 docking port of the International Space Station (1998 067A) on 13 October 2000. The payload included the Z-1 truss, the Ku Band Antenna System, the Control Moment Gyros (CMGs) and the Pressurised Mating Adapter (PMA)-3 which was fixed on a Spacelab pallet (F005) as described for 1983 116A.

PMA-3

The orbiter carried also a number of Developmental Test Objective (DTO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A): 1. DTO-275: Structural Dynamics Model Validation; 2. DTO-675: Incapacitated Crewmember Translation; 3. DTO-689: SAFER flight demonstration; 4. DTO-700-14: Single String Global Positioning System; and 5. DTO-847: Solid State Star Tracker (SSST) Size Limitations. On 14 October 2000, the Z-1 truss, which measured 4.60 x 4.60 m, was unberthed and on 15 October 2000 McArthur and Chiao undertook an EVA of 6 hours, 28 minutes to attach Z1 to Node 1 to provide a temporary attachment for the Port 6 Photovoltaic (P6PV) module which will be brought to the space station on the ISS-4A mission. On 16 October 2000 Wisoff and Lopez-Alegria made an EVA of 7 hours, 7 minutes to attach the PMA-3 module. It will serve as a docking port for future STS flights to the space station. The third EVA by Chiao and McArthur took place on 17 October 2000 and lasted 6 hours, 48 minutes during which the astronauts connected Z-1 cables and installed other equipment. The final EVA, on 18 October 2000, was made by Wisoff and Lopez-Alegria. They undertook further tests of the Z-1 structure but then went on to test the SAFER spacesuit backpack propulsion units, allowing the astronauts to make semi-free flights (with a long tether). The EVA lasted 6 hours 56 minutes. On 20 October 2000 the orbiter undocked and, after a flight of 12 days, 21 hours, 42 minutes the orbiter landed at Edwards AFB.

2000 063A (26564) Name: Kosmos-2375 Country: Russia Launch date: 13 October 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-2

Orbit: 19125 x 19134 km, inclination: 64.8° Glonass navigational satellite as described for 1982 100A.

2000 063B (26565) Name: Kosmos-2376 Country: Russia Launch date: 13 October 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-2


2000 063C (26566) Name: Kosmos-2374 Country: Russia Launch date: 13 October 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-2


2000 064A (26570) Name: Progress M-43 Country: Russia Launch date: 16 October 2000 Re-entry: 29 January 2001 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


Cargo transfer spacecraft as described for 1989 066A. Progress M-43 docked with the rear port of Mir/Kvant-1 (1986 017A) on 20 October 2000. The spacecraft was launched to maintain the Mir orbit in anticipation of commercially funded flights through Mir Corp. None such flights eventuated and on 25 January 2001 the spacecraft undocked, allowing the preparations for a controlled re-entry of the Mir complex to begin.

2000 065A (26575) Name: DSCS III-12 Country: USA Launch date: 20 October 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Atlas IIA

Orbit: geostationary at 12°W Military communications satellite as described for 1982 106B. Also known as USA-153 and DSCS III-B11. In February 2014 it was oved to 57oE.

2000 066A (26578) Name: Thuraya-1 Country: United Arab Emirates Launch date: 21 October 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Odessey Launch vehicle: Zenit 3SL


Communications satellite owned by Thuraya Satellite Communications, a United Arab Emirates corporation which provides mobile communications services to the Middle East, Eastern Europe, northern Africa and the Indian sub-continent. The satellite was based on the Boeing BSS-702 (previously Hughes Hughes HS-706) platform but was fitted with an inflatable 12.25 m diameter antenna covered with a gold plated molybdenum mesh, providing 200 to 250 spot beams, each with a diameter of 400 to 450 km. The 5108 kg satellite carried two transponders in the C band as well as equipment for 13,750 simultaneous telephone calls operating in the L band. The launch took place at 154oW, 0o, south of Hawaii.

2000 067A (26580) Name: GE-6 Country: USA Launch date: 21 October 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-3


Communications satellite built by Lockheed Martin using the A2100 platform and owned by GE Americom Communications. The 3552 kg satellite carried 24 transponders in the C band and 28 transponders in the Ku band. As part of a merger with SES as SES Americom, the satellite was renamed AMC-6 in November 2001. In November 2004 16 transponders were obtained by Rainbow Media and operated as Rainbow-2.

2000 068A (26590) Name: Europe*Star-1 Country: United Kingdom Launch date: 29 October 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 44LP


Communications satellite system was owned by Europe*Star UK. The 4167 kg satellite was based on the Space Systems/Loral LS-1300 platform and carried 30 transponders in the Ku band to provide services to Europe, the Middle East, India, South East Asia and South Africa. In 2005 Europe*Star UK was purchased by PanAmSat and the satellite was renamed as Panamsat-12. On 1 February 2007 it was further renamed as Intelsat-12.

2000 069A (26599) Name: Beidou 1-A Country: China Launch date: 30 October 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Xichang Launch vehicle: CZ 3A


Beidou-1A was an experimental geostationary navigational satellite in the Compass system. The satellite was based on the DFH-3 communications satellite and provided a locational accuracy of 10m. The system consisted of 4 satellites which had an estimated mass of 2300 kg.

2000 070A (26603) Name: Soyuz TM-31 Country: Russia Launch date: 31 October 2000 Re-entry: 6 May 2001 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


Crewed spaceflight with cosmonauts Y. Gidzenko (Cmdr.), S. Krikalyov (Fl. Eng) (both from Russia) and astronaut W. Shepherd (ISS Commander) (USA), using a Soyuz TM spacecraft as described for 1986 035A. Their call sign was Uran. The objective of the flight was to undertake the International Space Station (ISS)-2R mission to bring the first permanent ISS crew to the space station. The mission was also known as ISS-1S. Soyuz TM-31 docked at the rear Zvezda port of ISS (1998 067A) on 2 November 2000 and the crew moved into the space station about 1 hour later. For the duration of the mission the space station was referred to as ‘Station Alpha’. The crew returned to Earth on 21 March 2001 on STS-102 (2001 010A). On 27 February 2001 the spacecraft was undocked and redocked at the nadir docking port of Zarya. On 18 April 2001 it was again undocked and docked at the rear Zvezda docking port. On 6 May 2001, the spacecraft, carrying the Soyuz TM-32 (2001 017A) crew, undocked and returned to Earth.

2000 071A (26605) Name: Navstar 2R-6 Country: USA Launch date: 10 November 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Delta 7925

Orbit: 20177 x 20498 km, inclination: 54.9° Navigational satellite as described for 1997 035A. Also known as USA-154, Navstaer-41, Navstar-49 and SVN-41.

2000 072A (26608) Name: Panamsat-1R Country: USA Launch date: 15 November 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 5G


Communications satellite owned by Pan American Satellite and based on the Boeing BSS-702 platform. The satellite, which had a mass of 1200 kg, carried 36 transponders in the C band and 36 transponders in the Ku band. On 1 February 2007 the satellite was renamed as Intelsat-1R.

2000 072B (26609) Name: Amsat P-3D Country: Germany Launch date: 15 November 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 5G


The Amsat Phase 3D radio amateur satellite was built in Germany. The 630 kg satellite, also known as Osacr-40 and AO-40, carried 5 receivers and 7 transmitters in various bands. The satellite also carrier two cosmic ray monitors, a passive ionospheric sounder, two wide angle cameras and a GPS receiver. The orbit was such that, taking into account the rotation of the Earth, the satellite was over the same spot every 48 hours.

2000 072C (26610) Name: STRV-1C Country: United Kingdom Launch date: 15 November 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 5G


STRV-1C and -1D

Developed and built by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency of the UK’s Ministry of Defence, the Space Technology Research Vehicle (STRV)-1C and -1D (2000 072D), had a mass of up to 100 kg each. The satellites carried a range of experiments from the UK, Europe, the USA and Canada. STRV-1C carried: 1. a prototype solar panel with GaAs/Ge solar cells; 2. the Sparc Microprocessor Experiment (SMX)-1, a radiation tolerant SPARC processor; 3. the Cosmic Radiation Effects Dosimeter, to gain data on the impact of cosmic rays on spacecraft

systems; 4. the GPS At GEO Experiment (GAGE) to investigate the use of GPS from a geostationary to low-Earth

orbit; 5. the Microwave Test Bed (MTB) to evaluate SHF communications; 6. the Dose Depth Monitor (DDM) to record the absorption of space radiation by metals; 7. the Gas Flow Sensor Experiments (GFSE) to demonstrate control and monitor mechanisms for the

UK-10 ion thruster; 8. the Proton Monitor (PM) to study the proton environment; 9. the Standard Radiation Environment Monitor, to monitor the radiation environment of the spacecraft; 10. the Solar Cell Technology Experiment (SCTE); 11. the Linear Concentrator Experiment (LCE), to test a linear pointing solar cell assembly; 12. the Atomic Oxygen Erosion Sensor (AOE) to study atomic oxygen erosion; and 13. the Cosmic Debris & Micrometeoroids and Compact Environmental Sensor Experiment (CEASE),

also known as S97-1, to measure debris and micrometeoroids.

2000 072D (26611) Name: STRV-1D Country: United Kingdom Launch date: 15 November 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 5G

Orbit: 615 x 39269 km, inclination: 6.4° Technology satellite as described for 2000 072C. The experiments were: 1. the Coherent EM Radio tornography and profiling the limb with UV sensors (CERT-PLUS), als known

as S97-2; 2. the Encrypted Consultative Committee on Space Data Systems (CCSDS) Space Experiment, to

demonstrate a secure telecommand/telemetry communications system; 3. the Electronic Test Bed (ETB) to demonstrate the radiation performance of new electronic devices; 4. the Quantum Well Infrared Photodetectors, a next generation of infrared surveillance camera; 5. an InP/Si experimental solar panel; 6. the Sparc Microprocessor (SMX)-2; 7. the Bradford Engineering Pressure Transducer (BEPT), measuring the pressure in cold gas attitude

control systems; 8. a lithium ion battery experiment; and 9. a multifunction structure experiment provided by the USA.

2000 073A (26615) Name: Progress M1-4 Country: Russia Launch date: 16 November 2000 Re-entry: 8 February 2001 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U

Orbit: 372 x 379 km, inclination: 51.6° Cargo transfer spacecraft as described for 2000 005A. Progress M1-3 docked with the Zarya nadir port of ISS (1998 067A) on 18 November 2000. The flight was also known as ISS-2P. The spacecraft carried supplies for the space station as well as fuel for attitude control. It undocked on 1 December 2000 but remained in orbit for rendez-vous and docking tests at a later date. The spacecraft redocked again on 26 December 2000. It undocked again on 8 February 2001.

2000 074A (26617) Name: QuickBird-1 Country: USA Launch date: 20 November 2000 Re-entry: 21 November 2000 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


QuickBird-1 was the first of a two satellite remote sensing satellite system to provide panchromatic imagery with a resolution better than 1 m. It was owned by Earthwatch Inc. Failure of the second stage prevented the 2365 kg satellite from attaining the desired orbit of 600 km with an inclination of 66o and the satellite re-entered on the first orbit.

2000 075A (26619) Name: EO-1 Country: USA Launch date: 21 November 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Delta 7320


The 573 kg Earth Observing (EO)-1 satellite carried: 1. the Advanced Land Imager (ALI), a high resolution imaging system; 2. the Atmospheric Connector (AC), to test methods for adjusting for atmospheric distortion caused by

water vapor and other particles; 3. the Hyperion instrument to provide resolution of surface properties in hundreds of spectral bands; 4. seven technology experiments:

• an X-band phased array antenna;

• a carbon-carbon radiator system;

• lightweight flexible solar arrays;

• a wide band advanced recorder processor;

• a pulse plasma thruster;

• a fiber optic data bus; and

• the satellites enhanced formation flying capability. In 2004 the satellite was used to demonstrate artificial intelligence software to find and diagnose failures in a satellite’s instruments and systems. This programme was called Space Technology (ST) 6. A follow on programme known as EO-2 or Space Readiness Coherent Lidar Experiment (SPARCLE), a Space Shuttle experiment to be flown in 2001, was cancelled in 1999 whilst EO-3, or Geostationary Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS) was scheduled for launch in 2003 but was also cancelled. A US Navy sponsored instrument, it would have collected atmospheric data to analyze temperature, wind patterns, cloud cover, water vapor, and pollutants in the atmosphere.

2000 075B (26620) Name: SAC-C Country: Argentina Launch date: 21 November 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Delta 7320


The 450 kg Satellite de Aplicaciones Cientificas (SAC)-C satellite studied terrestrial and marine ecosystems, develop temperature and water vapor profiles of the atmosphere, investigate the ionosphere and conduct gravitational studies. The project is undertaken in collaboration with the United States, Denmark, Brazil, France and Italy. The principal instruments were a Magnetic Mapping Payload (MMP), the Multispectral Medium Resolution Scanner (MMRS), the GPS Occultation and Passive Reflection Experiment (GOLPE), the HRTC, a panchromatic camera system with a resolution of 35 m, WT, an instrument that tracked migratory bird routes, ICARE, to test electronic components, as well as a Data Collection System (DCS).

2000 075C (26621) Name: Munin Country: Sweden Launch date: 21 November 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Delta 7320


The objective of the 6 kg Munin satellite was to collect data on auroral activities. The instrumentation consisted of a combined electron and ion spectrometer, a solid state detector to measure high energy particles and a miniature CCD camera to make images of the aurora.

2000 076A (26624) Name: Anik F-1 Country: Canada Launch date: 21 November 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 44L


Communications satellite owned by Telesat Canada and based on the Boeing BSS-702 platform. The 4700 kg satellite carried 48 transponders in the Ku band and 36 transponders in the C band.

2000 077A (26626) Name: Sirius-3 Country: USA Launch date: 30 November 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-3

Orbit: 12540 x 47094 km, inclination: 63.3° Direct radio broadcasting satellite as described for 2000 035A. The fourth satellite in the series, Sirius-4, was a ground spare and was never launched.

2000 078A (26630) Name: STS-97 Country: USA Launch date: 1 December 2000 Re-entry: 11 December 2000 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS


Crewed spaceflight with astronauts B. Jett (Cmdr.), M. Bloomfield (Pilot), J. Tanner, C. Noriega and M. Garneau (Canada) (all Mission Specialists) using the orbiter Endeavour as described for 1981 034A. The orbiter docked with the downfacing PMA-3 docking port of the International Space Station (1998 067A) on 3 December 2000. The objective was to undertake the International Space Station (ISS)-4A mission. The payload included the Integrated Truss Structure - Port (ITS P)-6, the Photovoltaic Module (PV) and the S-band antenna system. The mission established the initial photo voltaic power capabilities with solar arrays extending 240 feet. The ITS P-6 was temporarily installed on top of the Z-1 truss. It accommodated two PV thermal control radiators. The installation required three EVAs of which the first one took place on 3 December 2000. It was undertaken by Tanner and Noriega and lasted 7 hours, 34 minutes. The second EVA was made by the same astronauts on 5 December 2000, lasting 6 hours, 37 minutes. The third EVA, again by Tanner and Noriega was on 7 December 2000 and lasted 5 hours, 10 minutes. In addition the mission carried: 1. the Seed Morphology Experiment which documented the growth of germinating soybean and corn

seeds; 2. the Seed Metabolite Experiment to study the adaptation of plants to microgravity; 3. Developmental Test Objective (DTO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A):

• DTO-257: Structural Dynamics Model Validation;

• DTO-261: International Space Station On-orbit Loads Validation;


• DTO-700-22: Crew Return Vehicle Space Integrated Global Positioning System – Inertial Navigation System;

• DTO-805: Crosswind Landing Performance;

• DTO HTD-1403: Micro-Wireless Instrumentation System;

• DTO HTD-1404: Laser Dynamic Range Imager; and 4. Detailed Supplementary Objective (DSO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A)

including:

• DSO-802: Educational Activities.

On 7 December 2000, after the completion of the EVAs, the hatch separating the orbiter and the space station was opened and the crew transferred equipment and supplies. On 9 December 2000 the orbiter undocked and landed, after a flight of 10 days, 19 hours, 58 minutes, at the Kennedy Space Centre. STS-97 was considered a crucial mission which prevented critical systems on the space station from freezing.

2000 079A (26631) Name: Eros A-1 Country: Israel Launch date: 5 December 2000 Re-entry: 7 July 2016 Launch site: Svobodny Launch vehicle: Start 1


Civilian Earth observation satellite with a CCD camera with a resolution of up to 2 m. The satellite had a mass of 250 kg. Further satellites in the series were cancelled in favour of the Eros B development, as described for 2006 014A.

2000 080A (26635) Name: SDS 2-2 Country: USA Launch date: 6 December 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Atlas IIAS

Orbit: geostationary at 10°W Military data relay satellite as desribed for 1996 038A. It was also known as USA-155, NROL-10 and Great Bear. It was later moved to 92oE and again inj February 2014 to 110oE.

2000 081A (26638) Name: Astra-2D Country: Luxembourg Launch date: 20 December 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 5G

Orbit: geostationary at 28.2°E

Communications satellite owned by the Societe Europeenne des Satellites (SES) and based on the Boeing BSS-376HP platform. The 1453 kg satellite carried 16 transponders in the Ku band. In Julty 2015 it was moved to 5.2oE and in December 2015 to 57.2oE.

2000 081B (26639) Name: GE-8 Country: USA Launch date: 20 December 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 5G


Communications satellite as described for 2000 054B. As part of a merger with SES as SES Americom, the satellite was renamed AMC-8 in November 2001. Eventually the satellite was used by Alascom as Aurora-3.

2000 081C (26640) Name: LDREX-1 Country: Japan Launch date: 20 December 2000 Re-entry: 21 March 2010 Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 5G


The Large Deployable Reflector Experiment (LDREX)-1 spacecraft was a 140 kg half scale mock-up of a deployable antenna for the future ETS-8 technology satellite to be launched by Japan. LDREX was be fitted with a camera to record the antenna deployment. The experiment failed.

2000 082A (26643) Name: Beidou 1-B Country: China Launch date: 20 December 2000 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Xichang Launch vehicle: CZ 3A

Orbit: geostationary at 80°E Experimental navigational satellite as described for 2000 069A.

--- Name: Gonets D-7 Country: Russia Launch date: 27 December 2000 Re-entry: n.a. Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Tsyklon 3 Orbit: failed to orbit Message relay communications satellite as described for 1996 009A. The satellite failed to orbit due to a failure of the third stage of the launch vehicle.

--- Name: --- Country: Russia Launch date: 27 December 2000 Re-entry: n.a. Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Tsyklon 3 Orbit: failed to orbit Strela 3 military communications satellite as described for 1985 003A. The satellite failed to orbit due to a failure of the third stage of the launch vehicle.

world spacecraft digest by jos heyman 2000 … of thelma, louise and jak in opal jak (the initials...

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