| | Astrid-1
ASTRID-1, a precursor to sophisticated microsat platforms
 Astrid-1 was Sweden’s first microsatellite, designed and developed by SSC on behalf of the Swedish National Space Board. Astrid-1 was launched piggyback on a Kosmos-3M launcher from Plesetsk in January 1995.
SSC had total responsibility for the entire project, from mission analysis and platform design, to ground station development and satellite operation.
Astrid-1 carried an Energetic Neutral Atom analyzer, an Electron Spectrometer and two UV imagers for imaging the aurora. The instruments were developed by the Swedish Institute for Space Physics in Kiruna.
 The ASTRID project was intended a precursor to more sophisticated microsatellites for space science and as a test flight of a basic microsatellite design. The project has showed that a microsatellite with a serious space science mission can be built in about a year and at a very low cost, including launch, of $1.4 million. As a result of this success the Swedish Space Corporation was contracted with the Swedish National Space Board to develop a second microsatellite, ASTRID 2, launched in 1998.
Technical characteristics:
• Platform: spin stabilized, sun pointing
• Launch mass: 27 kg
• Payload mass: 4.36 kg
• Payload power: 11.88 W
• Size: H 290 mm, W 450 mm, D 450 mm
|
|
|
| |
|
|