world spacecraft digest by jos heyman 2002 version: 8 … · launch vehicle: titan 401b orbit ......

WORLD SPACECRAFT DIGEST by Jos Heyman 2002

Version: 8 June 2016 © Copyright Jos Heyman

2002 001A (27168) Name: Milstar 2-3 Country: USA Launch date: 16 January 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Titan 401B

Orbit: geostationary at 30°E

Military communications satellite as described for 1994 009A but with an increased capacity of 32 transponders in the 44 GHz band as well as the Medium Data Rate payload and a crosslink capability at 60 GHz. Also known as USA-164. In September 2015 it was moved to 4oE.

2002 002A (27298) Name: Insat 3-C Country: India Launch date: 23 January 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 42L

Orbit: geostationary at 74°E Communications satellite as described for 2000 016B but with 30 transponders in the C band, 2 transponders in the S band as well as two Mobile Satellite Services transponders operating in the C and S bands. The satellite had a mass of 2750 kg.

2002 003A (27367) Name: Tsubasa Country: Japan Launch date: 4 February 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Tanegashima Launch vehicle: H 2A-2024

Orbit: 482 x 35695 km, inclination: 28.5°

Also known as Mission Demonstration Test Satellite (MDS)-1, the 450 kg satellite demonstrated a range of commercial components in a space environment including commercial semiconductor devices, terrestrial solar cells, a common pressure vessel type battery, a solid state data recorded, a parallel computer system and space environment data acquisition equipment comprising the Standard Dose Monitor (SDOM), a Dosimeter (DOS), a Heavy Ion Telescope (HIT) and a Magnetometer (MAM).

2002 003B (27368) Name: DASH/VEP-3 Country: Japan Launch date: 4 February 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Tanegashima Launch vehicle: H 2A-2024


The Demonstrator of Atmospheric Reentry System with Hyper Velocity (DASH) spacecraft, with a mass of 86 kg, was to demonstrate high velocity reentry of a 19 kg re-entry capsule. The capsule was to separate three days after launch and recovered after a parachute landing in Mauritania. However, after launch contact with the satellite could not be established and the satellite did not separate from the upper stage. The Vehicle Evaluation Payload (VEP)-3, which was attached to the upper stage, carried instrumentation to monitor the performance of the H 2A launch vehicle.

2002 004A (27370) Name: HESSI Country: USA Launch date: 5 February 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Pegasus XL Orbit: 579 x 607 km, inclination: 38.0o

The High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (HESSI) provided images and energy spectra of solar flare X-rays and gamma rays over a period of two to three years during their highest energy emissions. The 293 kg spacecraft's sole instrument was an imaging spectrometer to construct flare images from patterns of light and shadows, that are produced by high-energy radiation as it passed through the instrument's grids while the spacecraft rotated. It was also known as SMEX-6 and Explorer-81. On 29 March 2002 the spacecraft was renamed as Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) in honor of Reuven Ramaty, a pioneer in the area of high energy solar physics. The launch vehicle was released from the L-1011 carrier aircraft.

2002 005A (27372) Name: Iridium-91 Country: USA Launch date: 11 February 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Delta 7920

Orbit: 629 x 642 km, inclination: 86.6° Mobile communications satellite as described for 1997 020A. The satellite was a replacement satellite.

2002 005B (27373) Name: Iridium-90 Country: USA Launch date: 11 February 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Delta 7920


2002 005C (27374) Name: Iridium-94 Country: USA Launch date: 11 February 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Delta 7920


2002 005D (27375) Name: Iridium-95 Country: USA Launch date: 11 February 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Delta 7920


2002 005E (27376) Name: Iridium-96 Country: USA Launch date: 11 February 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Delta 7920


2002 006A (27378) Name: Echostar-7 Country: USA Launch date: 21 February 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Atlas IIIB

Orbit: geostationary at 119°W

Communications satellite owned by the Echostar Satellite Corp. The 4026 kg satellite was based on a Lockheed Martin A2100 platform and carried 32 transponders in the Ku band.

2002 007A (27380) Name: Intelsat-904 Int. Agency: Intelsat Launch date: 23 February 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 44L


Communications satellite as described for 2001 024A, but with 76 transponders in the C band and 22 transponders in the Ku band.

2002 008A (27382) Name: Kosmos-2387 Country: Russia Launch date: 25 February 2002 Re-entry: 27 June 2002 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U

Orbit: 176 x 369 km, inclination: 67.1° Yantar 4K2 military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1981 080A.

2002 009A (27386) Name: Envisat Int. Agency: ESA Launch date: 1 March 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 5G


Envisat was a polar orbiting Earth observation satellite with a mass of 8111 kg. The instruments consisted of: 1. an Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) with dual polarisation, 400 km swath capability and

a set of viewing angles; 2. the Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS), a 1000 km swath imaging spectrometer for

ocean colour monitoring; 3. the Advanced Along-Track Scanning Radiometer (AATSR), a 500 km swath radiometer for precise

sea surface temperature measurements and the observation of land characteristics; 4. the Advanced Radar Altimeter (RA-2) for determining wave heights and global wind speeds,

supported by a Microwave Radiometer (MWR), a Laser Retro-Reflector (LRR) and the Doppler Orbitography and Radio-positioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS) orbit determination system;

5. a Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) to measure the mid-infrared spectrum in the upper troposphere and stratosphere;

6. the Global Ozone Monitoring by Occultation of Stars (GOMOS) instrument to observe ozone and other trace gases in the stratosphere; and

7. the Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Cartography (SCIAMACHY), an imaging spectrometer for observing a wide range of trace gases.

2002 010A (27388) Name: STS-109 Country: USA Launch date: 1 March 2002 Re-entry: 12 March 2002 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS Orbit: 486 x 578 km, inclination: 28.5o

EVA, 6 March 2002

Crewed spaceflight with astronauts S. Altmann (Cmdr.), D. Carey (Pilot), J. Grunsfeld (Payload Cmdr.), N. Currie, J. Newman, R. Linnehan and M. Massimino (all Mission Specialists), using the orbiter Columbia as described for 1981 034A. The objective of the mission was to undertake the fourth Hubble (1990 037B) servicing mission. The orbiter carried a modified Spacelab pallet as described for 1983 116A and identified as the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier (ORUC). The payload included: 1. various instruments and equipment to be installed on the Hubble Space Telescope which were fitted

on a Spacelab pallet as described for 1983 116A:

• the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS);

• the Power Control Unit (PCU);

• the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) Cryocooler;

• a new set of solar arrays;

• a replacement Reaction Wheel Assembly (RWS); 2. Developmental Test Objective (DTO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A):

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

• DTO-805: Crosswind Landing Performance; 3. Detailed Supplementary Objective (DSO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A):

• DSO-490: Bioavailability and Performance Effects of Promethazine During Space Flight;

• 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;

• DSO-500: Induced-Induced Reactivation of Latent Epstein-Barr Virus;

• DSO-503S: Test of Midodrine as a Countermeasure Against Postflight Orthostatic Hypotension;

• DSO-634: Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and Light Exposure During Space Flight;

• DSO-635: Spatial Reorientation Following Space Flight; and

• DSO-802: Educational Activities Objective 2.

On 3 March 2002 the orbiter captured the Hubble Space Telescope and placed it in the payload bay. On 4 March 2002 Grunsfeld and Linnehan made an EVA of 7 hours 1 minute, during which the removed the solar arrays and installed one replacement array. The next day, 5 March 2002, Newman and Massimino conducted an EVA of 7 hours, 16 minutes and installed the next solar array as well as the RWS. On 6 March 2002, during an EVA of 6 hours, 51 minutes, Grunsfeld and Linnehan installed the Power Control Unit. The next EVA, on 7 March 2002 was again undertaken by Newman and Massimino and during the 7 hours, 34 minutes they removed the Faint Object Camera and installed the Advanced Camera for Surveys. They also installed the Crocs Aft Shroud Harness. Finally, the fifth EVA was undertaken by Grunsfeld and Linnehan on 8 March 2002. It lasted 6 hours 52 minutes and the astronauts installed the NICMOS unit. The space telescope was released again on 9 March 2002. After a flight of 10 days, 22 hours, 10 minutes the orbiter landed at the Kennedy Space Centre.

2002 011A (27389) Name: TDRS-9 Country: USA Launch date: 8 March 2001 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Atlas IIA


Tracking and data relay satellite as described for 2000 034A. Problems with the satellite’s propulsion system failed it from being placed in the intended geostationary orbit 150oW immediately after launch. However, through a series of engine burns the satellite finally reached the desired geostationary orbit on 30 September 2002. It was moved to 12oW in June 2015.

2002 012A (27391) Name: GRACE-1 Country: Germany Launch date: 17 March 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Rokot/Briz KM Orbit: 483 x 508 km, inclination: 89.0o

The Gravity Recovery and Global Experiment (GRACE) programme was a joint NASA/German effort consisting of two identical satellites which were separated in orbit by 200 km. Also named Tom and Jerry, the two 480 kg satellites measured Earth gravity, ocean currents, ocean heat transfers, ice sheets and water and snow storage from a polar orbit. The mission has also be referred to as Earth System Science Pathfinder (ESSP)-2.

2002 012B (27392) Name: GRACE-2 Country: Germany Launch date: 17 March 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Rokot/Briz KM Orbit: 483 x 508 km, inclination: 89.0o Scientific satellite as described for 2002 012A.

2002 013A (27395) Name: Progress M1-8 Country: Russia Launch date: 21 March 2002 Re-entry: 25 June 2002 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz FG

Orbit: 389 x 394 km, inclination: 51.6° Cargo transfer spacecraft as described for 2000 005A. Progress M1-8 docked with the rear Zvezda docking port of ISS (1998 067A) on 24 March 2002. The flight was also known as ISS-7P. The spacecraft undocked on 25 June 2002.

2002 014A (27397) Name: Shenzhou-3 Country: China Launch date: 25 March 2002 Re-entry: 1 April 2002 Launch site: Jiuquan Launch vehicle: CZ 2F


Crewed spacecraft as described for 1999 061A but flown in an automated mode. On this test flight the spacecraft carried a dummy astronaut to monitor the on-board life support systems. Chinese authorities have hinted at a number of other experiments in the life sciences, materials, astronomy and physics disciplines although no details have been released. Observers believe the payload included an electronic intelligence gathering payload as well as an an imaging reconnaissance package with two cameras with an aperture of 500 - 600 mm. One is mounted in the equipment package at the nose of the spacecraft whilst the other is behind a porthole above the orbital module's main hatch. The Descent Module landed in Inner Mongolia whilst the Orbital Module (2002 014C) remained in orbit until 12 November 2002, to continue the scientific experiments.

2002 015A (27399) Name: JC Sat-8 Country: Japan Launch date: 29 March 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 44L


JC Sat-8 was a communications satellite for JSAT Corporation. Based on a Boeing BSS-601 platform, the 2615 kg satellite carried 16 transponders in the C band and 16 transponders in the Ku band. Once operational the satellite was renamed as JC Sat-2A.

2002 015B (27400) Name: Astra-3A Country: Luxembourg Launch date: 29 March 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 44L

Orbit: geostationary at 23.5°E

Communications satellite for SES Astra. Based on a Boeing BSS-376 platform, the 1500 kg satellite carried 20 transponders in the Ku band. In December 2013 it was moved to 176.8oE.

2002 016A (27403) Name: Intelsat-903 Int. Agency: Intelsat Launch date: 30 March 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-3

Orbit: geostationary at 34.5°W


2002 017A (27409) Name: Kosmos-2388 Country: Russia Launch date: 1 April 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Molniya M

Orbit: 518 x 39852 km, inclination: 62.9° Oko military early warning satellite as described for 1972 072A.

2002 018A (27413) Name: STS-110 Country: USA Launch date: 8 April 2002 Re-entry: 19 April 2002 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS


Crewed spaceflight with astronauts M. Bloomfield (Cmdr.), S. Frick (Pilot), J. Ross, S. Smith, E. Ochoa, L. Morin and R. Walheim (all Mission Specialists), using the orbiter Atlantis as described for 1981 034A. The objective was to undertake the International Space Station (ISS)-8A mission. The payload included Integrated Truss Structure Starboard (ITS S-0) as well as the Airlock Spur and the Mobile Transporter (MT). In addition the orbiter carried: 1. the Astroculture (ASC)-9 experiment as described for STS-50 (1992 034A); 2. the Cellular Biotechnology Operations Support System (CBOSS) to provide a controlled environment

for the cultivation of cells; 3. the Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA)-15 as described for STS-50 (1992 034A); 4. the Physics of Colloids in Space (PCS) experiment to study the behaviour of fine particles in fluids; 5. the Protein Crystallisaton Apparatus for Microgravity (PCAM)-7 as described for STS-63 (1995 004A); 6. the Protein Crystal Growth/Single Locker Thermal Enclosure (PCG/STES)–6 experiment as

described for STS-66 (1994 073A); 7. the Renal Stone Risk During Space Flight experiment to study the risk of kidney stone development

in a space environment; 8. the Commercial Protein Crystal Growth (CPCG)-18 experiments as described for STS-49 (1992

026A); 9. two experiments for installation on ISS:

• the Biomass Production System (BPS) a test facility supporting plant growth and botanical experimentation;

• the Photosynthesis Experiment and System Testing Operation (PESTO) to study the effects of microgravity on photosynthesis and metabolism in wheat plants;

10. Developmental Test Objective (DTO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A):

• DTO-264: International Space Station On-Orbit Loads Validation;

• DTO-263: Shuttle Automatic Reboost Tuning;

• DTO-700-14: Single String Global Positioning System;



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

• DSO-498: Space Flight and Immune Function;

• DSO-499: Eye Movements and Motion Perception Induced by Off-Vertical-Axis Rotation (OVAR) at Small Angles of Tilt After Spaceflight;

• DSO-500: Space Flight Induced Reactivation of Latent Epstein-Barr Virus; and

• DSO-503-S: Test of Midodrine as a Counteractive Measure Against Postflight Orthostatic Hypotension.

The orbiter docked with the PMA-2 docking port of the International Space Station (1998 067A) on 10 April 2002. On 11 April 2002 Smith and Walheim made an EVA of 7 hours, 48 minutes during which they installed the S-0 truss on top of the Destiny module. The Integrated Truss Structure (ITS) S-0 provided attachments and umbilicals between the pressurised elements and permanent truss mounted systems and utilities of the space station. It was fitted with a number of supplementary components. The Airlock spur provided an EVA translation path from the Joint Airlock to the Integrated Truss Structure whilst the Mobile Transporter (MT) provided the truss translation for the Mobile Servicing System (MSS). On 13 April 2002 Morin and Ross made an EVA of 7 hours, 30 minutes to install the aft-facing tripod assemblies needed to complete S-0's structural attachment. The third spacewalk of 6 hours, 27 minutes was done by Smith and Walheim on 14 April 2002 during which they rewired the Canadarm2 spacecrane for its eventual mounting on the mobile transporter. Finally, on 16 April 2002, Ross and Morin made an EVA of 6 hours, 37 minutes to perform a variety of "get-ahead" tasks for upcoming assembly missions The orbiter undocked on 17 April 2002 and landed at the Kennedy Space Centre after a flight of 10 days, 19 hours, 42 minutes.

2002 019A (27414) Name: NSS-7 Country: The Netherlands Launch date: 16 April 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 44L


International communications satellite owned by New Skies Satellites and based on the Lockheed Martin A2100 platform. The 4700 kg satellite carried 36 transponders in the Ku band and 36 transponders in the C band. In May 2012 it was relocated to 20oW.

2002 020A (27416) Name: Soyuz TM-34 Country: Russia Launch date: 25 April 2002 Re-entry: 10 November 2002 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U


Crewed spaceflight with cosmonauts Y. Gidzenko (Cmdr.), R. Vittori (Fl. Eng.) (ESA) and M. Shuttleworth (Passenger) (South Africa) using a Soyuz TM spacecraft as described for 1986 035A. The mission was also known as ISS-4S. Their call sign was Uran. The ESA part of the mission was also identified as Marco Polo. The investigations of the Marco Polo mission included: 1. ALTIENO, an investigation of space radiation effects on the functional state of the central nervous

system and an operator's working capacity; 2. the Blood Measurement Instrument (BMI) to measure blood pressure and circadian rhythms in

weightlessness; 3. the Crews Health: Investigation on Reduced Operability (CHIRO) investigations; and 4. the functional in-orbit test of a new integrated crew garment system (VEST). The spacecraft docked with the Zarya nadir port of ISS (1998 067A) on 27 April 2002. The crew returned to Earth on 5 May 2002 with Soyuz TM-33 (2001 048A). Their flight duration had been 9 days, 21 hours, 16 minutes. On 9 November 2002 the spacecraft undocked and carried S. Zaletin, Y. Lonchakov and F. De Winne, who had arrived on Soyuz TMA-1 (2002 050A), back to Earth. They landed 25 km south-east of Arkalyk.

2002 021A (27421) Name: SPOT-5 Country: France Launch date: 4 May 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 42P


Remote sensing satellite as described for 1986 019A. In addition SPOT-5 carried the Vegetation-2 payload. The satellite had a mass of 3000 kg.

2002 021B (27422) Name: Idefix Country: France Launch date: 4 May 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 42P


Idefix (named after the pet dog of the Asterix comic book character) was an amateur radio payload consisting of two small 6 kg boxes attached to the third stage of the launch vehicle. The boxes were identified as CU-1 and CU-2 as well as Oscar-47 and Oscar-48, respectively or BO-47 and BO-48, from Breizhsat. They were developed by Amsat-F.

2002 022A (27424) Name: Aqua Country: USA Launch date: 4 May 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Delta 7920-10L


The 2934 kg satellite made climate-related measurements of the atmosphere, cloud cover, precipitation, terrestrial snow cover and sea ice. The data allowed scientists to assess long-term environmental change, identify its human and natural causes and advance the development of models for long-term forecasting. The instruments were: 1. the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) an infrared spectrometer to determine temperature and

humidity vertical profiles; 2. the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer – EOS (AMSR/E) to determine rainfall rates and

measure sea surface winds and temperatures; 3. the Advanced Microwave Sounding Units (AMSU) A-1 and A-2 to determine temperature profiles; 4. the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES), a two band visible to far infrared

radiometer to measure the energy balance of the atmosphere; 5. the Humidity Sensor for Brazil (HSB) to obtain humidity profiles; and 6. the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS). The satellite was part of the proposed and subsequently cancelled Earth Observing System (EOS) and was originally known as EOS-PM-1. It was also part of the “A Train” formation as described for 2006 016A.

2002 023A (27426) Name: Direc TV-5 Country: USA Launch date: 7 May 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-3


Direct broadcasting satellite as described for 1997 011A. The satellite was originally ordered as Tempo-1 but with the acquisition of the company by Direc TV, was renamed as Direc TV-5.

2002 024A (27430) Name: Feng Yun 1-4 Country: China Launch date: 15 May 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Taiyuan Launch vehicle: CZ 4B

Orbit: 851 x 872 km, inclination: 98.8° Meteorological satellite as described for 1988 080A.

2002 024B (27431) Name: Haiyang 1-A Country: China Launch date: 15 May 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Taiyuan Launch vehicle: CZ 4B


The 360 kg oceanographic satellite collected data to study ocean temperature, chlorophyll concentration, sedimentation and ecology. It carried a 10-band ocean color scanner, a 4-band CCD imager with 250-meter resolution and an infrared water profile radiometer.

2002 025A (27434) Name: Ofeq-5 Country: Israel Launch date: 28 May 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Palmachim Launch vehicle: Shavit 1

Orbit: 369 x 770 km, inclination: 143.5° Military photo reconnaissance satellite as described for 1995 018A. It carried camera equipment with a resolution up to 1 m.

2002 026A (27436) Name: Kosmos-2389 Country: Russia Launch date: 28 May 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M

Orbit: 950 x 1017 km, inclination: 83.0° Parus military navigational satellite as described for 1974 105A.

2002 027A (27438) Name: Intelsat-905 Int. Agency: Intelsat Launch date: 5 June 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 44L



2002 028A (27440) Name: STS-111 Country: USA Launch date: 5 June 2002 Re-entry: 19 June 2002 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS


Crewed spaceflight with astronauts K. Cockrell (Cmdr.), P. Lockhart (Pilot), F. Chang-Diaz, P. Perrin (France) (all Mission Specialists), as well as ISS EX-5 crew consisting of V. Korzun (Cmdr.), P. Whitson and S. Treschev (all Mission Specialists), using the orbiter Endeavour as described for 1981 034A. The objective was to undertake the International Space Station (ISS)-Utilization Flight (UF)-2 mission. The payload included the Leonardo Multipurpose Logistics Modules (MPLM) as described for 2001 010A, the Mobile Remote Services Base System (MBS), the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) Wrist Roll Joint, the Power and Data Grapple Fixture (PDGF) and six Service Module Debris Panels (SMDP). In addition the orbiter carried: 1. the Biomass Production System (BPS), as described for STS-110 (2002 018A); 2. the KSC Gaseous Nitrogen Freezer; 3. the Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA)-16 as described for STS-50 (1992 034A); 4. the Protein Crystal Growth/Single Locker Thermal Enclosure (PCG/STES)–9 experiment as

described for STS-66 (1994 073A); 5. the Commercial Protein Crystal Growth – High Density (CPCG-H)-1, an improved version of the

CPCG experiment as described for STS-49 (1992 026A); 6. the STELSYS Commercial Refrigeration Incubator Module (CRIM)-2 as described for STS-84 (1997

023A); 7. Developmental Test Objective (DTO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A):

• DTO-694: Biotechnology Water Treatment System;





• DSO-500: Space Flight Induced Reactivation of Latent Epstein-Barr Virus;

• DSO-503-S: Test of Midodrine as a Counteractive Measure Against Postflight Orthostatic Hypotension;

• DSO-634: Sleep-Awake Actigraphy and Light Exposure During Spaceflight; and

• DSO-635: Spatial Reorientation Following Spaceflight. In addition the Department of Defense observed OMS engine burns as part of the Ram Burn Observation (RAMBO)-1 study. The orbiter docked with the PMA-2 docking port of the International Space Station (1998 067A) on 7 June 2002 following which the Leonardo module was attached to the Space Station on 8 June 2002. On 9 June 2002 Chang-Diaz and Perrin made an EVA of 7 hours, 14 minutes during which the installed the PGDF grapple fixture on the P6 truss, stowed some space debris shields on the PMA-1 adapter and prepared the Mobile Base System in the cargo bay. On 11 June Chang-Diaz and Perrin made an EVA of 5 hours, 0 minutes to complete the setting up of the MBS. The third spacewalk of 7 hours, 17 minutes, also by Chiang-Diaz and Perrin, was done on 13 June 2002 to install the SSRMS Wrist Roll Joint. The Leonardo Module was returned to the cargo bay on 14 June 2002 and the orbiter undocked on 15 June 2002, leaving the EX-5 crew on the space station and carrying the EX-4 crew, consisting of Onufrienko, Bursch and Walz, back to Earth. The orbiter landed at Edwards AFB after a flight of 13 days, 20 hours, 35 minutes. The EX-4 crew had been in orbit for 195 days, 19 hours, 39 minutes.

2002 029A (27441) Name: Ekspress A-4 Country: Russia Launch date: 10 June 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-2M

Orbit: geostationary at 40°E Communications satellite as described for 2000 013A. In April 2016 it was moved to 145oE.

2002 030A (27445) Name: Galaxy-3C Country: USA Launch date: 15 June 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Odyssey Launch vehicle: Zenit 3SL


Communications satellite owned by Panamsat. The 2800 kg Boeing BSS-702 platform carried 24 transponders in the C band and 54 transponders in the Ku band. The Odyssey launch platform was located at 154oW, off Hawaii.

2002 031A (27450) Name: Iridium-97 Country: USA Launch date: 20 June 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Rokot/Briz KM


2002 031B (27451) Name: Iridium-98 Country: USA Launch date: 20 June 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Rokot/Briz KM


2002 032A (27453) Name: NOAA-17 Country: USA Launch date: 24 June 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Vandenberg Launch vehicle: Titan II


Meteorological satellite as described for 1998 030A. It was retired in April 2013.

2002 033A (27454) Name: Progress M-46 Country: Russia Launch date: 26 June 2002 Re-entry: 14 October 2002 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz U

Orbit: 193 x 245 km, inclination: 51.7° Cargo transfer spacecraft as described for 1989 066A. Progress M-46 docked at the rear Zvezda port of ISS (1998 067A) on 29 June 2002. The flight was also known as ISS-8P. It undocked on 24 September 2002 and remained in orbit to make Earth observations using on-board cameras before it finally re-entered.

2002 034A (27457) Name: Contour Country: USA Launch date: 3 July 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Delta 7425-9.5 Orbit: 212 x 108614 km, inclination: 30.6o

The Comet Nucleus Tour (Contour) was to undertake spectral mapping of several comets as well as analysis of the dust and gas emitted by these comets. It was the sixth mission in NASA’s Discovery programme. The instruments on the 970 kg spacecraft were: 1. the Contour Remote Imager and Spectrograph (CRISP) the principal observation instrument with a

resolution of 4 m; 2. the Contour Forward Imager (CFI), which will take images of the target comet as the spacecraft

approaches; 3. the Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer (NGIMS), which will investigate the neutral gas and ion

species in the comet’s coma; and 4. the Comet Impact Dust Analyser (CIDA), to collect dust particles during a fly by. On 16 August 2002, when the spacecraft’s engines were supposed to fire 140 kilometers above the Indian Ocean to accelerate it to 6912 kilometers per hour to overcome the pull of Earth's gravity, contact was lost. Images obtained through a telescope at Kitt Peak indicated that the spacecraft was destroyed. The three fragments remained in an orbit around the Sun of 0.876 x 1.131 AU with an inclination of 8.7o to the ecliptic plane. The intended flight trajectory would have allowed the spacecraft to make a fly by at 90 km of the Comet Encke in November 2003, followed by Comet Schwassmann-Wachman 3 in June 2006 and Comet D’Arrest in August 2008. Using Earth swing-bys, the flight trajectory could have been altered to fly by another comet than Comet D’Arrest.

2002 035A (27460) Name: Stellat-5 Country: France Launch date: 5 July 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 5G


Communications satellite owned by Stellat, a joint venture by France Telecom and Europe*Star, The 1805 kg satellite was built by Alcatel Space using the Spacebus 300B3 platform. It carried 35 transponders in the Ku band and 10 transponders in the C band. The ‘5’ in the name referred to the orbital location. The satellite was eventually sold to Eutelsat as Atlantic Bird-3. In March 2012 it became known as Eutelsat 5 West-A.

2002 035B (27461) Name: N Star-c Country: Japan Launch date: 5 July 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 5G


Communications satellite owned by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. and built by Orbital Sciences using the Star 2 platform. Being dissimilar to earlier satellites in the series, as described for 1995 044A, the 1800 kg satellite carried transponders in the S band.

2002 036A (27464) Name: Kosmos-2390 Country: Russia Launch date: 8 July 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M

Orbit: 1468 x 1507 km, inclination: 82.5 ° Strela 3 military communications satellite as described for 1985 003A. The launch was the first use of the Kosmos 3M launch vehicle for this type of satellite, which restricted the capacity to two satellites.

2002 036B (27465) Name: Kosmos-2391 Country: Russia Launch date: 8 July 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M

Orbit: 1466 x 1506 km, inclination: 82.5 ° Strela 3 military communications satellite as described for 1985 003A.

--- Name: IRDT-2 Country: Germany Launch date: 12 July 2002 Re-entry: 12 July 2002 Launch site: Barents Sea Launch vehicle: Volna Orbit: suborbital to 200 km

The Inflatable Reentry and Descent Technology (IRDT)-2 payload was a follow-on of the payload launched on 8 February 2000. The 146 kg payload was launched from submarine K-44 Ryazan and was sent into a sub-orbital trajectory, landing in Kamchatka after a flight of 30 minutes. The payload has, however, not been found and searches were abandoned after two weeks. Post-flight analysis indicated that during the separation of the 2nd and 3rd stage, the IRDT and a part of the protective payload capsule were prematurely detached from the 3rd stage. The flight was a joint project of Astrium (Germany) and Lavochkin.

2002 037A (27470) Name: Kosmos-2392 Country: Russia Launch date: 25 July 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-5

Orbit: 1507 x 1834 km, inclination: 63.5° Arkon military reconnaissance satellite as described for 1997 028A.

2002 038A (27499) Name: Hot Bird-6 Int. Agency: Eutelsat Launch date: 21 August 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Atlas V-401


Communications satellite owned by Eutelsat and built by Alcatel using a Spacebus 3000B3 platform with a mass of 4900 kg. It was fitted with 28 transponders in the Ku band and 4 transponders in the Ka band, as well as eight SKYPLEX units for on-board multiplexing. In March 2012 it was renamed as Eutelsat Hot Bird 13-A. At a later date it was moved to 8oW and renamed as Eutelsat 8 West-C and yet later to 33.1oE as Eutelsat 33-D..

2002 039A (27501) Name: Echostar-8 Country: USA Launch date: 22 August 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-3


Communications satellite as described for 1999 050A. The satellite carried 16 high-power national transponders and 25 spot beam transponders, all operating in the Ku band.

2002 040A (27508) Name: Atlantic Bird-1 Int. Agency: Eutelsat Launch date: 28 August 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 5G


Atlantic Bird-1 was a communications satellite owned by Eutelsat and built by Alenia Spazio. The 2708 kg satellite carried 24 transponders in the Ku band. The satellite was dissimilar to Atlantic Bird-2 (2001 042A). In March 2012 it was renamed as Eutelsat 12 West-A. In January 2016 it was moved to 36oW and renamed as Eutelsat 36 West-A.

2002 040B (27509) Name: Meteosat-8 Int. Agency: Eumetsat Launch date: 28 August 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 5G

Orbit: geostationary at 0°

Initially known as Meteosat Second Generation (MSG)-1, Meteosat-8 was a meteorological satellite operated by the European Meteorological Satellite (Eumetsat) organization. Built by Alcatel, the 2042 kg satellite carried: 1. two radiometers that detected light reflected at different wavelengths by the Earth’s surface; 2. the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI), which operated in 12 different spectral

channels; and 3. a Cospas-Sarsat search and rescue transponder as described for 1982 066A.

2002 041A (27513) Name: Intelsat-906 Int. Agency: Intelsat Launch date: 6 September 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 44L



2002 042A (27515) Name: USERS Country: Japan Launch date: 10 September 2002 Re-entry: 15 June 2007 Launch site: Tanegashima Launch vehicle: H 2A-2024


The Unmanned Space Experiment Recovery System (USERS) was a 1700 kg spacecraft that carried a re-entry module. Primarily a test of the re-entry technology, the spacecraft was also equipped with an electric heating furnace to conduct experiments with super conductive materials, as well as an optical environmental measurement instrument. On 29 May 2003 the re-entry module (2002 042H) separated from the service module and landed in the sea east of the Ogasawara Islands. The craft was successfully located and retrieved. The main spacecraft (2002 042A) remained in orbit to complete other mission objectives.

2002 042B (27516) Name: Kodama Country: Japan Launch date: 10 September 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Tanegashima Launch vehicle: H 2A-2024


Also known as Data Relay Test Satellite (DRTS), the satellite relayed data from other satellites and the international space station in lower orbits to ground stations on Earth. The 2800 kg satellite was fitted with S and Ka band equipment.

2002 043A (27525) Name: Metsat Country: India Launch date: 12 September 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Sriharikota Launch vehicle: PSLV C4


Meteorological satellite with a mass of 1050 kg. The satellite represented a departure from the multipurpose INSAT system, in terms of separating the meteorological services. It carried a Very High Resolution Radiometer (VHRR) and a Data Relay Transponder (DRT). In early 2003 the satellite was renamed Kalpana, in memory of astronaut Kalpana Chawla.

--- Name: PS-1 Country: China Launch date: 15 September 2002 Re-entry: n.a. Launch site: Taiyuan Launch vehicle: KT 1 Orbit: failed to orbit

The first test flight of the Kai Tuozhe (KT) 1 launch vehicle, a converted DF-31 ballistic missile, carried a 38.5 kg microsatellite believed to have been developed by HTSTL (Hangtian-Tsinghua Satellite Technology Ltd.) of Beijing. The satellite carried a beacon operating at 2094 MHz and was to be placed in a 300 km polar orbit. Assuming similarity with PS-2, which was carried on the second test flight on 16 September 2003, the satellite was probably named PS-1. The launch vehicle’s second stage failed.

2002 044A (27528) Name: Hispasat 1-D Country: Spain Launch date: 18 September 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Atlas IIAS


Communications satellite owned by Hispasat and built by Alcatel using the Spacebus 3000 platform. The 3250 kg satellite carried 28 transponders in the Ku band. It was renamed as Hispasat 30W-4 in February 2016.

2002 045A (27531) Name: Progress M1-9 Country: Russia Launch date: 25 September 2002 Re-entry: 1 February 2003 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz FG

Orbit: 282 x 324 km, inclination: 51.6° Cargo transfer spacecraft as described for 2000 005A. Progress M1-9 docked with the rear Zvezda port of ISS (1998 067A) on 29 September 2002. The flight was also known as ISS-9P. It undocked on 1 February 2003.

2002 046A (27534) Name: Nadezhda M-1 Country: Russia Launch date: 26 September 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M

Orbit: 987 x 1022 km, inclination: 83.0° Improved version of the Nadezhda civilian navigation satellite as described for 1989 050A. The payload also included the Kospas-10 transponder as described for 1982 066A.

2002 047A (27537) Name: STS-112 Country: USA Launch date: 7 October 2002 Re-entry: 18 October 2002 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS


Crewed spaceflight with astronauts J. Ashby (Cmdr.), P. Melroy (Pilot), D. Wolf, P. Sellers, S. Magnus and cosmonaut F. Yurchikhin (Rus.) (all Mission Specialists), using the orbiter Atlantis as described for 1981 034A. The objective was to undertake the International Space Station (ISS)-9A mission. The payload included the Integrated Truss Structure Starboard (ITS S)-1 as well as the Crew and Equipment Translation (CETA) Cart A. ITS S-1 housed the US Central Thermal Control System (CTCS). ITS S-1 also extended the S band communications capability. The CETA Cart A provided EVA crew mobility along ITS. In addition the orbiter carried: 1. the Spatial Heterodyne Imager for Mesopheric Radicals (SHIMMER), a technology experiment to

assess the performance of measuring the ultraviolet light spectrum emitted by hydroxyl molecules in the 30 to 100 km altitude;

2. the Ram Burn Observation (RAMBO)-2 experiments as described for STS-111 (2002 028A); 3. four experiments for installation on ISS:

• the Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA)-17 as described for STS-50 (1992 034A);

• the Protein Crystal Growth/Single Locker Thermal Enclosure (PCG/STES)–10 experiment as described for STS-66 (1994 073A);

• the Plant Growth Bioprocessing Apparatus (PGBA) as described for STS-77 (1996 032A);

• the Zeolite Crystal Growth (ZCG)-4 experiment as described for STS-50 (1992 034A); 4. Developmental Test Objective (DTO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A):

• DTO-264: International Space Station On-Orbit Loads Validation;



• DSO-490: Bioavailability and Performance Effects of Promethazine During Spaceflight;




• DSO-501: Effects of Short Duration Spaceflight on Type 1/Type 2 Cytokine Balance and its Endocrine Regulation;


• DSO-634: Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and Light Exposure During Spaceflight; and

• DSO-635: Spatial Reorientation Following Spaceflight. The orbiter also carried new experiments to ISS and returned old experiments back to Earth. It docked with the PMA-2 docking port of the International Space Station (1998 067A) on 9 October 2002. The mission involved three EVAs, all performed by Wolf and Sellers. Early on 10 October 2002 the S-1 truss was lifted out of the payload bay with the ISS arm and positioned against the starboard side of the S-0 truss. A claw on the S-0 truss pulled the two units together whilst motorised bolts seal the connection. The first EVA, on 10 October 2002, concentrated on connecting cables and equipment to the S-1 truss, fixing CETA on the rails along S-1 as well as preparatory work for the subsequent EVAs. It lasted 7 hours, 1 minute. Both the second EVA, on 12 October 2002 of 6 hours, 4 minutes, and the third EVA of 6 hours, 36 minutes, on 14 October 2002, were used for the completion of the connections for S-1. The orbiter undocked on 16 October 2002 and landed at the Kennedy Space Centre after a flight of 10 days, 19 hours, 57 minutes.

--- Name: Foton M-1 Country: Russia Launch date: 15 October 2002 Re-entry: n.a. Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Soyuz U Orbit: failed to orbit

Foton M was a modification of the Foton materials science satellite as described for 1988 031A. The modification involved an improved power supply and attitude control system. The satellite carried a 650 kg payload provided by France, Russia, ESA and Germany: 1. the Instrument de Biologie Spatiale (IBIS), a cell culture laboratory that conducted five French

experiments; 2. the German AGAT furnace; 3. the Russian Polizon furnace; 4. four separate Russian experiments: Comparus, Mirage, Synus-16 and Chastata; 5. the Fluid Physics Facility, an ESA payload with four separate experiments; 6. ESA’s Biopan facility hosting nine experiments; 7. the Telescience Support Unit; 8. six autonomous experiments provided by ESA including three developed by university students, the

Stone simulated meteorite experiment and the Soret Coefficient in Crude Oil (SCCO) experiment; The flight was to last 15 days but the failure of the launch vehicle after 15 seconds, prevented it from reaching orbit.

2002 048A (27540) Name: Integral Int. Agency: ESA Launch date: 17 October 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-2


The International Gamma Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (Integral) was a dedicated spacecraft for spectroscopy and imaging of celestial gamma ray sources. The principal instruments on the 4100 kg spacecraft were: 1. a germanium spectrometer; 2. a caesium iodide coded aperture mask imager; 3. an X ray monitor; and 4. an optical transient camera. It was developed by all member states of the European Space Agency as well as the USA and Russia, the latter providing the launch vehicle for which it received a quarter of the observation time of the satellite.

2002 049A (27550) Name: Zi Yuan 2-B Country: China Launch date: 27 October 2002 Re-entry: 22 January 2015 Launch site: Taiyuan Launch vehicle: CZ 4B

Orbit: 470 x 483 km, inclination: 97.4° Remote sensing satellite as described for 2000 050A. Also known as Jian Bing 3-2.

2002 050A (27552) Name: Soyuz TMA-1 Country: Russia Launch date: 29 October 2002 Re-entry: 3 May 2003 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Soyuz FG


Crewed spaceflight with cosmonauts S. Zaletin (Cmdr), Y. Lonchakov (Fl. Eng.) and F. De Winne (Fl. Eng) (ESA) using a Soyuz TMA spacecraft which was an improved version of the Soyuz TM spacecraft as described for 1986 035A. It was also known as Soyuz 7K-STMA. The main improvements were to the seating to accommodate taller cosmonauts, hence A = Anthropometricheski. In addition the solar arrays were extended to a span of 10.7 m. The mission was also known as ISS-5S and the crew’s call sign was Yenisey. The spacecraft docked with the Pirs nadir docking port of ISS (1998 067A) on 1 November 2002. During his stay on board of ISS, de Winne carried out a programme of 23 experiments in the fields of life and physical sciences and education, including four in the station’s Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG). The missions has also been referred to as Odissea. The investigations were: 1. VIDEO-1, a videotaped demonstration of physical phenomena in space; 2. Amateur Radio on the ISS (ARISS); 3. CARDIORESPIR, an investigation into the cardiorespiratory adaptation to the space environment; 4. the characterisation of the effects of microgravity on the mechanism of action of Vitamin D in

osteoblasts (VITAMIN D); 5. the CHROMOSOMES experiment to measure chromosomal aberrations in the blood lymphocytes of

astronauts; 6. the COSMIC investigation into combustion synthesis under microgravity conditions; 7. the RAMIROS experiment to study the cosmic radiation and microgravity related oxidative stress; 8. the PROMISS experiment to investigate defects in biomolecular crystals induced by growth in space

and on Earth; 9. the Diffusion Coefficients in Crude Oils (DCCO) experiment; 10. the NEUROCOG experiment to study directed attention brain potentials in virtual 3D space in

weightlessness; 11. the effects of microgravity on the peripheral subcutaneous veno-arteriolar reflex in humans (XENON-

1); 12. the Granada Crystallisation Facility (GCF) as described for Soyuz TM-33 (2001 048A); 13. Lightning and Sprites Observations (LSO) as described for Soyuz TM-33 (2001 048A); 14. the measurement of heart rate, blood pressure, respiration and blood flow to obtain heart rate

variability, blood pressure variability and blood distribution (SPACE RHYTHMS); 15. the Microbiological Experiment on Space Station About Gene Expression (MESSAGE); 16. the VIRUS experiment to monitor the latent virus reactivation and shedding in crew members;

17. the AORTA experiment that measured physiological parameters to predict orthostatic intolerance after spaceflight;

18. the RHO SIGNALLING experiment to measure signalling through Rho GTPases in microgravity; 19. the study of sleep-wake actigraphy and light exposure during spaceflight (SLEEP); 20. the study of stress, cognition and physiological response during spaceflight (COGNISPACE); 21. the NANOSLAB experiment to study the aggregation mechanism and kinetics of ZSM-5 and Silicalite-

1 nanoslabs into ZSM-5/Silicalite-1 hybrid phases under microgravity conditions; 22. study of the structure and morphology of zeogrids obtained under microgravity conditions

(ZEOGRID); and 23. the SYMPATHO experiment to study the sympathoadrenal activity in humans during spaceflight. The crew returned to Earth on 10 November 2002 with Soyuz TM-34 (2002 020A). Their flight duration had been 10 days, 20 hours, 53 minutes. Soyuz TMA-1 undocked on 3 May 2003, taking the EX-6 crew consisting of K. Bowersox, D. Pettit and N. Budarin back to Earth. They landed the same day 460 km from Arkalyk. The crew had been in orbit for 161 days, 1 hour, 17 minutes.

2002 051A (27554) Name: Eutelsat W-5 Int. Agency: Eutelsat Launch date: 20 November 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Delta 4M+(4,2)

Orbit: geostationary 70.5°E

Communications satellite owned by Eutelsat and built by Alcatel using the Spacebus 3000. The 3170 kg satellite carried 24 transponders in the Ku band. It has been suggested that it used parts of Eutelsat W-1 which had been destroyed by fire. In March 2012 it was renamed as Eutelsat 70-A whilst in February 2013 it was moved to 25.5oE and renamed as Eutelsat 25-C. In November 2013 it was moved again, this time to 33oE, and was renamed Eutelsat 33-B.

2002 052A (27556) Name: STS-113 Country: USA Launch date: 24 November 2002 Re-entry: 7 December 2002 Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: STS


Crewed spaceflight with astronauts J. Wetherbee (Cmdr.), P. Lockhart (Pilot), M. Lopez-Alegria, J. Herrington (both Mission Specialists), as well as ISS EX-6 crew K. Bowersox (Cmdr.), D. Pettit and N. Budarin (Rus) (both Mission Specialists), using the orbiter Endeavour as described for 1981 034A. The objective was to undertake the International Space Station (ISS)-11A mission. The payload included the Integrated Truss Structure Port (ITS P)-1 with its integrated hardware, as well as the Crew and Equipment Translation Aid (CETA) Cart B. ITS P-1 facilitated the port US Central Thermal Control System (CTCS). CETA Cart B provided crew transport along ITS. In addition the orbiter carried: 1. two MEPSI satellites which were released on 2 December 2002 (2002 052B); 2. experiments for installation on ISS:

• the Coarsening in Solid Liquid Mixture (CSLM) experiment which used the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) on ISS to investigate the interaction of large and small particles in a liquid;

• InSpace, an experiment using the MSG to obtain basic data on magnetorheological fluids;

• Foot/Ground Reaction Forces During Spaceflight, a medical experiment to investigate the lower body muscle activity of the crew;

• the Protein Crystal Growth/Single Locker Thermal Enclosure (PCG/STES)–11 experiment as described for STS-66 (1994 073A);

3. the Zeolite Crystal Growth (ZCG)-5 experiment as described for STS-50 (1992 034A); 4. Developmental Test Objective (DTO) experiments as described for STS-1 (1981 034A), including:


• DSO-490: Bioavailability and Performance Effects of Promethazine During Spaceflight;




• DSO-500: Spaceflight-induced Reactivation of Latent Epstein-Barr Virus;


• DSO-632-B: Pharmacokinetics and Contributing Physiologic Changes During Spaceflight; and

• DSO-634: Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and Light Exposure During Spaceflight. The orbiter docked with the PMA-2 docking port of the International Space Station (1998 067A) on 25 November 2002. The mission involved three EVAs, all performed by Herrington and Lopez-Alegria. On 26 November 2002 the P-1 truss was lifted out of the payload bay with the ISS arm and positioned against the starboard side of the S-0 truss. A claw on the S-0 truss pulled the two units together whilst motorised bolts sealed the connection. On the first EVA of 6 hours, 45 minutes, on 26 November 2002, the astronauts concentrated on connecting cables and equipment to the P-1 truss as well as preparatory work for the subsequent EVAs. On the second EVA, on 28 November 2002, of 6 hours, 10 minutes, further work was performed on the P1 truss whilst the CETA cart was also moved into place. With the third EVA of 7 hours, 0 minutes, on 30 November 2002, the installation was completed. The orbiter undocked on 2 December 2002, carrying the EX-5 crew, consisting of Korzun, Treschev and Whitson, back to Earth and leaving the EX-6 crew on the space station. After a three days' delay due to weather conditions, the orbiter landed at the Kennedy Space Centre after a flight of 13 days, 18 hours, 47 minutes. The EX-5 crew had been in orbit for 184 days, 22 hours, 14 minutes.

2002 052B (27562) Name: MEPSI-3 Country: USA Launch date: 2 December 2002 Re-entry: 31 January 2003 Launch site: STS Launch vehicle: ---


Released by STS-113 (2002 052A), the Micro Electro-mechanical System (MEMS) based Picosat Inspector (MEPSI)-3 consisted of two 1 kg payloads connected by a 16 m tether line. Based on earlier experiments with tethered satellites MEPSI demonstrated on-board imaging capability to assess spacecraft damage, monitor launch and deployment sequences as well as augment servicing operations. Some references refer to these payloads as MEPSI-1 and -2 but these were, respectively, the combined MEMS-1 and -2 payloads (2000 004H) and the combined Picosat-7 and -8 payloads (2000 042C).

2002 053A (27557) Name: Astra-1K Country: Luxembourg Launch date: 25 November 2002 Re-entry: 9 December 2002 Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-3 Orbit: 175 x 175 km, inclination: 51.6o

Communications satellite as described for 1993 031A but built by Alcatel using a Spacebus 3000 platform. The 5275 kg satellite carried 52 transponders operating in the Ku band and 2 transponders operating in the Ka band. Failure of the DM3 upper stage of the launch vehicle to re-ignite, prevented the satellite from

achieving the desired geostationary orbit at 19°E. It was later moved to a 244 x 317 km orbit from where it was re-entered into the Pacific Ocean.

2002 054A (27559) Name: Alsat-1 Country: Algeria Launch date: 28 November 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


The 90 kg satellite was part of the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) Consortium, established by Algeria, China, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam and the United Kingdom to provide images with a resolution down to 4 m, designed to monitor natural and man made disasters. The satellite was built by Surrey Satellite Technology and was owned by the Algerian Centre National des Techniques Spatiales.

2002 054B (27560) Name: Mozhaets-2 Country: Russia Launch date: 28 November 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


The 64 kg Mozhaets-2 radio amateur satellite was built by NPO Prikladnoi Mekhaniki with the instruments provided by the Mozhaisky military academy in St Petersburg. Based on the Strela-1M satellite bus, the payload included a Glonass/GPS receiver, a particle detector and an amateur radio payload. The satellite was also known as Radio-20. In some reference sources this satellite is called Mozhaets-3.

2002 054C (27561) Name: Rubin-3-dsi Country: Germany Launch date: 28 November 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Kosmos 3M


Rubin-3-dsi was a 45 kg payload built by PO Polyot and OHB System of Bremen. It remained attached to the second stage of the launch vehicle and measured the launch vehicle’s environment and performance. Data was transmitted in real time, allowing the vehicle to be tracked. The acronym ‘dsi’ stands for ‘dopolnitel’naya sistema izmereniya’, meaning ‘additional measurement system’.

2002 055A (27566) Name: TDRS-10 Country: USA Launch date: 5 December 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Cape Canaveral Launch vehicle: Atlas IIA


Tracking and data relay satellite as described for 2000 034A.

--- Name: Hot Bird-7 Int. Agency: Eutelsat Launch date: 11 December 2002 Re-entry: n.a. Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 5ECA Orbit: failed to orbit

Communications satellite owned by Eutelsat and built by Astrium using the Eurostar 2000 platform. The 3400 kg satellite carried 40 transponders in the Ku band. The first stage of the launch vehicle lost thrust after 3 minutes and the satellite was not placed in its desired geostationary orbit at 13oE.

--- Name: Stentor Country: France Launch date: 11 December 2002 Re-entry: n.a. Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 5ECA Orbit: failed to orbit

The Satellite de Télécommunications pour Expérimenter de Nouvelles Technologies en Orbite (Stentor) was to undertake a number of communications technology experiments. The 2068 kg satellite was fitted with: 1. three transponders in the Ku band to conduct a number of experiments and tests; 2. a beacon in the EHF band to conduct propagation experiments; 3. the Comrad radiation monitor to measure radiation in the geostationary orbit; 4. an experimental plasma propulsion system; and 5. a new generation GPS receiver. The first stage of the launch vehicle lost thrust after 3 minutes and the satellite was not placed in its desired geostationary orbit at 11oW.

2002 056A (27597) Name: Midori-2 Country: Japan Launch date: 14 December 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Tanegashima Launch vehicle: H-2A-202 Orbit: 806 x 807 km, inclination: 98.7o

Earth observation satellite as described for 1996 046A. Also known as Advanced Earth Orbiting System (ADEOS)-2.

2002 056B (27598) Name: FEDSAT Country: Australia Launch date: 14 December 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Tanegashima Launch vehicle: H 2A-202


Federation Satellite (FEDSAT) was a 50 kg micro satellite based on a platform supplied by Space Innovations Ltd. The satellite undertook five principal missions: 1. satellite-to-satellite communications with other microsats in similar orbits, testing the Ka band

downlink, conducting out digital signal processing experiment and testing remote area personal safety communications;

2. the NEWMAG experiment in solar-terrestrial physics and measure electrical current and perturbations in the Earth’s magnetic field;

3. conducted GPS occultation experiments for atmospherics sounding and remote sensing purposes; 4. tested the efficiency of a solar panel and space qualified a GPS receiver; and 5. provided hands-on-experience in space science and technology for those involved, providing a skilled

resource base for follow-on space projects whilst at the same time stimulating the development of a commercial market and maintaining the public interest.

2002 056C (27599) Name: WEOS Country: Japan Launch date: 14 December 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Tanegashima Launch vehicle: H 2A-202


WEOS, Mu-Lab-Sat, Fedsat

The Whale Ecology Observation Satellite (WEOS) monitored the migratory moves of blue whales. The whales concerned were fitted with a sensor/transmitter which was attached to the whales by means of a harpoon. The sensor/transmitter used GPS navigational satellites to determine the location of the whale and transmit this data to WEOS. The satellite had a mass of 50 kg.

2002 056D (27600) Name: Mu-Lab-Sat Country: Japan Launch date: 14 December 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Tanegashima Launch vehicle: H 2A-202


The 68 kg Mu-Lab-Sat was built by young Japanese engineers to allow them to gain experience. The satellite carried several experimental components including a new computer, a state-of-the-art power control system, imaging technologies, and off-the-shelf commercial parts. On 14 March 2003 and 14 May 2003 the satellite released two tiny subsatellites (2002 056F and 2002 056G) in an experiment to test an onboard tracking imager for inspector satellites.

2002 056F (28454) Name: RITE-1 Country: Japan Launch date: 14 March 2003 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Tanegashima Launch vehicle: H 2A-202


The Remote Inspection Technology Experiment (RITE)-1 target was released from Mu-Lab-Sat (2002 056D). The disk, with a diameter of about 0.1m in diameter, was used to test a tracking imager for inspector satellites.

2002 056G (28455) Name: RITE-2 Country: Japan Launch date: 14 May 2003 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Tanegashima Launch vehicle: H 2A-202


Target as described for 2002 056F.

2002 057A (27603) Name: NSS-6 Country: The Netherlands Launch date: 18 December 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Kourou Launch vehicle: Ariane 44L


Communications satellite owned by New Skies Satellites. The 4700 kg Lockheed Martin A2100 satellite 60 transponders in the Ku band and 12 transponders in the Ka band.

2002 058A (27605) Name: Rubin-2 Country: Germany Launch date: 20 December 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Dnepr


The 14 kg Rubin-2 microsatellite was an Internet-controlled spacecraft to operate 24 hours a day without having to use ground stations. The instruments included: 1. the in-Orbit Technology Experiment (OCE) set of technology experiment comprising a GPS

(receiver and antenna) for precise orbit determination, a propulsion subsystem for the spin maneuver, a data handling for the overall experiment monitoring and control, a lithium-ion battery and a high voltage section, to provide the thruster with its required voltage level;

2. the ORBCOMM transponder, used for the OCE telemetry and telecommand; 3. SAFIR-M, a VHF Radio-Amateur transmitter as backup TM-TC equipment; 4. experimental solar cells, based on a "not-space-qualified" technology; 5. a deployment mechanism, based on a SMA (Shape Memory Alloy) wire as actuator, tested as an

alternative to pyrotechnics. The satellite failed to separate from the launch vehicle and was also known as Oscar-49 and AO-49.

2002 058B (27606) Name: LatinSat-B Country: Argentina Launch date: 20 December 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Dnepr


The 12 kg LatinSat-B was used by Aprize Satellite of Argentina to test technology for monitoring the state of both fixed and mobile goods for the transport industry using the UHF and S-band frequencies.

2002 058C (27607) Name: SaudiSat-1C Country: Saudi Arabia Launch date: 20 December 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Dnepr

Orbit: 634 x 689 km, inclination: 64.6° Scientific satellite as described for 2000 057D. It was also known as Oscar-50 and SO-50.

2002 058D (27608) Name: Unisat-2 Country: Italy Launch date: 20 December 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Dnepr


UniSat-2 was an Italian technology satellite which carried a sensor to detect debris impacts in orbit, an instrument for aerosol survey, a camera and a micropropulsion payload. It had a mass of 12 kg.

2002 058E (27609) Name: Trailblazer Country: USA Launch date: 20 December 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Dnepr


Trailblazer was a 100 kg structural mock-up of the Trailblazer-2001 lunar probe. It was owned by TransOrbital, a company that intended to establish a commercial lunar satellite programme which would see a lunar orbiter launched in 2003 to return images from the Moon for commercial purposes, followed by a lander in 2005 as well as other missions beyond there.

2002 058H (27612) Name: LatinSat-A Country: Argentina Launch date: 20 December 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Dnepr

Orbit: 638 x 655 km, inclination: 64.6° Navigational satellite as described for 2002 058B.

2002 059A (27613) Name: Kosmos-2393 Country: Russia Launch date: 24 December 2002 Re-entry: 22 December 2013 Launch site: Plesetsk Launch vehicle: Molniya M

Orbit: 517 x 39187 km, inclination: 62.8° Oko military early warning satellite as described for 1972 072A.

2002 060A (27617) Name: Kosmos-2394 Country: Russia Launch date: 25 December 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-2M

Orbit: 19127 x 19133 km, inclination: 64.8° Glonass navigational satellite as described for 1982 100A.

2002 060B (27618) Name: Kosmos-2396 Country: Russia Launch date: 25 December 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-2M


2002 060C (27619) Name: Kosmos-2395 Country: Russia Launch date: 25 December 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton K/DM-2M


2002 061A (27630) Name: Shenzhou-4 Country: China Launch date: 29 December 2002 Re-entry: 5 January 2003 Launch site: Jiuquan Launch vehicle: CZ 2F

Orbit: 196 x 329 km, inclination: 42.4° Crewed spacecraft as described for 1999 061A but flown in an automated mode. During the flight the spacecraft was maneuvered over the launch site, possibly as a test for a future in-orbit docking of two Shenzhou spacecraft. It landed successfully in Inner Mongolia. The orbital module, designated 2002 061C, remained in orbit conducting scientific research. It re-entered on 9 September 2003. The instruments concentrated on eight different groups of applied science and technological research experiments: 1. multimode microwave remote sensing ground observations; 2. environmental monitoring in space; 3. scientific experiments in space; 4. comprehensive and precision orbit determination experiments; 5. spatial cell electrofusion experiments; 6. biological macromolecule and cell synthesis; 7. micro-gravity fluid physical tests; and 8. payload support system tests in orbit. The 52 individual instruments included 19 tests of equipment and common instruments such as an atmospheric detector and microgravity surveying instrument, as well as 33 dedicated scientific instruments including a multiple model microwave remote sensor for ground observation, a spatial cell electrofusion instrument and a high energy particle detector.

2002 062A (27632) Name: Nimiq-2 Country: Canada Launch date: 29 December 2002 Re-entry: in orbit Launch site: Baikonour Launch vehicle: Proton M/Briz M


Communications satellite as described for 1999 027A but with 32 transponders in the Ku band and a single transponder in the Ka band. The satellite was moved to 39oE in October 2013. It was moved again in February 2014 to 63oW, to 109oW in June 2014, to 36oW in May 2015 and to 148oE in March 2016.

world spacecraft digest by jos heyman 2002 version: 8 … · launch vehicle: titan 401b orbit ......

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