UK-DMC
| Mission type |
Optical imaging Disaster monitoring |
|---|---|
| Operator |
BNSC (2003-2010) UKSA (2010-2011) |
| COSPAR ID | 2003-042D[1] |
| Mission duration | 8 years |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | SSTL-100 |
| Manufacturer | SSTL |
| Launch mass | 88 kilograms (194 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 27 September 2003, 06:11:44 UTC |
| Rocket | Kosmos-3M |
| Launch site | Plesetsk 132/1 |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Decommissioned |
| Deactivated | November 2011 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Sun-synchronous[2] |
| Perigee | 676 kilometres (420 mi) |
| Apogee | 695 kilometres (432 mi) |
| Inclination | degrees |
| Period | 98.5 minutes |
UK-DMC or UK-DMC 1, also known as BNSCSAT-1, was a British satellite that formed part of the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC). It was built by Surrey Satellite Technology, who operated it via DMC International Imaging on behalf of the British National Space Centre and later the UK Space Agency. It was launched alongside other DMC satellites on 27 September 2003, and retired from service in November 2011.
Mission
As well as carrying remote sensing imaging sensors, the satellite also carries experimental payloads: the CLEO Cisco router in Low Earth Orbit, an experiment demonstrating GNSS reflectometry, and a water resistojet propulsion system.[3] The UK-DMC demonstrated the first use of the Interplanetary Internet in space.[4] In November 2010, nearing the end of its operational life, UK-DMC was placed into a lower orbit.[5]
Deactivation
After 8 years in orbit, daily operations of the satellite ceased in November 2011.[6] Operations have been taken over by the satellite's successor, UK-DMC 2.
The satellite is now a part of the growing space junk in Low Earth Orbit, which will decay in the Earth's atmosphere sometime in the future.
References
- ↑ NASA "SPACEWARN Bulletin", Number 600, 1 November 2003
- ↑ http://celestrak.com/satcat/2003/2003-042.asp
- ↑ D. Gibbon, I Coxhill, D. Nicolini, R. Correi and J. Page, The Design, Development and In-flight Operation of a Water Resistojet Micropropulsion System, 40th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 11–14 July 2004, AIAA 2004-3798.
- ↑ UK-DMC satellite first to transfer sensor data from space using 'bundle' protocol, SSTL press release, 11 September 2008.
- ↑ SSTL satellite steps aside to reduce space junk, SSTL press release, 10 November 2010
- ↑ "UK-DMC-1 to take well-earned retirement". SSTL. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
External links
- SSTL page describing UK-DMC satellite, retrieved 2 November 2007.