SACI-1
The SACI-1 was a microsatellite of scientific applications, designed, developed, constructed and tested by Brazilian technicians, engineers and scientists working in INPE (National Institute of Space Research).[1] SACI-1 was launched on October 14, 1999, from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, China, by means of a Long March 4B rocket, as a secondary payload at the CBERS-1 launch.
Mission type | Earth orbiter |
---|---|
Operator | INPE |
COSPAR ID | 1999-057B |
SATCAT no. | 25941 |
Spacecraft properties | |
Manufacturer | INPE |
Launch mass | 60 kilograms (130 lb) |
Power | 150 watts |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | October 14, 1999 |
Rocket | Long March 4B |
Launch site | Taiyuan LC-7 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Sun-synchronous |
Semi-major axis | 7,098 kilometres (4,410 mi) |
Eccentricity | 0.00084 |
Perigee altitude | 733 kilometres (455 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 745 kilometres (463 mi) |
Inclination | 98.6° |
Period | 99.6 minutes |
Epoch | Planned |
Features
The "SACI" satellites are composed of a multi-mission platform and a set of experiments that constitute the payload. These satellites had the cooperation of several Brazilian and foreign institutions.
The SACI-1 scientific satellite has the following characteristics:
- Format: parallelepiped with 60 cm x 40 cm x 40 cm
- Mass: 60 kg
- Orbit: heliosynchronous
- Stabilization: by rotation (6 rpm)
- Precision: 1 degree
Energy supply
- Solar Cells: Gallium Arsenide (AsGa)
- Dimensions: 3 panels of 57 x 44 cm
- Efficiency: 19%
- Power output: 150W
- Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) Battery Cells
- Voltage: 1.4 V
- Capacity: 4.5 Ah
- Remote control rate: 19.2 kbit/s
- Transmission rate: 500 kbit/s
- Antennas of edge: 2 of transmission and 2 of reception, type Microstrip
- Operating frequency telemetry / remote control: 2,250 GHz / 2,028 GHz
- Receiving antenna in Soil: 3.4 m in diameter
Mission
Although the launch went smoothly, and the intended orbit reached, SACI-1 did not come into operation, probably due to a failure in the solar panel control system.
References
- Sousa, Fabiano. Desenvolvimento de satélites e plataformas espaciais no INPE no período 1961–2007 Archived 2014-02-02 at the Wayback Machine (PDF). INPE. Retrieved 31 March 2017.