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Also called JWS D1

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General

Designation	29653 / 06058A
Launch date	16 Dec 2006
Country of origin	United States
Mission	Remote sensing
Perigee/Apogee	413/424 km
Inclination	40°
Period	92.9 min
Launch vehicle	Minotaur #6
Launch site	Wallops Island, Launch Area 0B, Mid-Atlantic Region's commercial Spaceport (MARS)

The TacSat-2 demonstrated Orbital's ability to carry out an operationally responsive launch service just six months after the contract award.

It tested 11 different experimental instrument packages designed to give new capabilities to warfighters in southwest Asia.

Right after launch, there were communication problems that could be fixed. First imagery ok.

sat-index articles

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End of life

Out of service	21 Dec 2007
Cause	Normal end of mission
Decay	5 Feb 2011

Technical data

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Specifications

Prime contractor	MicroSat Systems (first satellite)
Platform	Microstar
Mass at launch	366 kg
Mass in orbit
Dimension
Solar array
Stabilization	3-axis
DC power	550 W
Design lifetime	1 year

It carries 11 onboard experiments.

Carries numerous new generation payloads (ESI imager (better than 1 m resolution, 5 km swath width), TIE is a target identifier, CDL is a communication system, ROPE onboard image processing, GPS receiver, etc.)

The Target Indicator Experiment (TIE) consists of a wideband sensor to gather radar, radio and handheld communication signals. The TIE also will check for the automated identification transmission now mandated for large ocean-going ships. The 50 cm optical telescope (0.15° pointing accuracy) will be operated during the satellite's initial day in orbit and throughout the flight to exhibit low-cost, high-quality photography. Runs opensource code derived from the Linux kernel.

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