FASTSAT - Scientific Laboratory For Research In Space

FASTSAT - NASA's Fast, Affordable, Science and Technology Satellite has been successfully launched from the Kodiak Launch Complex in Kodiak Island, Alaska on Friday, according to the following article.Apparently, the microsatellite which weighs just under 400 pounds, will serve as a scientific laboratory containing all the resources needed to carry out scientific and technology research operations for the mission time period.
    . . . June

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NASA Launches Newest Microsatellite In Alaska
Space News Story - WESH Orlando:

FASTSAT To Serve As Scientific Laboratory For Research In Space


"HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- NASA's Fast, Affordable, Science and Technology Satellite has been successfully launched from the Kodiak Launch Complex in Kodiak Island, Alaska on Friday.

Project manager Mark Bordeaux said the FASTSAT was launched aboard a Minotaur IV rocket at about 7:25 p.m. CST and entered low-earth orbit 406 miles of Earth approximately 22 minutes later.

“This milestone is a testament to our FASTSAT team that worked tirelessly to design, build and test a fully functional, low-cost satellite in a year,” Bordeaux said.

Bordeaux said the microsatellite FASTSAT, which weighs just under 400 pounds, will serve as a scientific laboratory containing all the resources needed to carry out scientific and technology research operations for the mission time period.Bordeaux said the spacecraft and six on board atmospheric and technology demonstration experiments will go through an on-orbit commissioning phase for the first 11 days. The next 180 days will be focused on science operations before an additional characterization of the spacecraft will be performed to test additional flight objectives.

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