OSC: MicroStar (original) (raw)
Please make a donation to support Gunter's Space Page.
Thank you very much for visiting Gunter's Space Page. I hope that this site is useful and informative for you.
If you appreciate the information provided on this site, please consider supporting my work by making a simple and secure donation via PayPal. Please help to run the website and keep everything free of charge. Thank you very much.
 MicroStar (Orbcomm) [OSC] |
 MicroStar (double) (OrbView 1) [OSC] |
|---|---|
 BATSAT (Teledesic T1) [OSC] |
|
 MicroStar-2 (generic) [Orbital] |
Designed to be launched in multiple or "piggyback" units, Orbital's innovative MircroStar satellite platform supports payloads up to 68 kg and provides a three- to five-year mission life. The baseline bus is comprised of three rings stacked together vertically – a core ring housing all primary spacecraft bus systems and a payload support module consisting of two rings and a payload mounting shelf. Payloads requiring different depths can be easily accommodated by using fewer rings, or by creating a custom ring. The open avionics architecture, stackable mechanical design and scalable spacecraft design maximize payload performance and flexibility.
The MicroStar configuration is applicable for a variety of missions, from technology demonstrations to space science programs such as QuikTOMS. MicroStar is also an ideal bus for science missions that require simultaneous deployment of multiple spacecraft, as in certain magnetospheric and ionospheric investigations.
Using a production line approach for assembly and testing, Orbital has delivered 38 MicroStar spacecraft, including 26 Orbcommsatellites launched in 10 months. This approach provides cost and schedule advantages through the use of mature designs, familiar manufacturing and test equipment, dedicated and experienced personnel, and established vendor sources. The production line has remained in place to support Orbcomm spares and individual MicroStar missions such as T1 and MUBLCOM. NASA's QuikTOMSspacecraft is also taking advantage of this production line.
MicroStar's unique, stackable design offers frequent, cost-effective launch-sharing opportunities. For example, eight Orbcommsatellites are launched at one time on a Pegasus. While MicroStar is optimized for Orbital's Pegasus and Taurus launch vehicles, it can fly on other vehicles as well.
Customers can purchase the MicroStar spacecraft alone, or as part of a turn-key service that includes operations and data delivery as well. For the OrbView 1 program, Orbital provided end-to-end payload services. The company produced the satellite bus, integrated two payloads, and launched the satellite on Pegasus.
The MicroStar platform was originally developed to support the Orbcomm wireless data communications system, which provides real-time, mobile, two-way data and messaging communications services worldwide. The first three MicroStar units, Orbcomm FM-1 & -2and the OrbView 1 remote sensing satellite, were launched on a single Pegasus in April 1995. Entering their fifth year of operation, these satellites continue to operate reliably.
The MicroStar-2 platform replaces the ring structure by a hexagonal structure.
Source: OSC Microstar Data Sheet