Lewis (satellite)
Mission type | Technology Remote sensing UV Astronomy |
---|---|
Operator | NASA |
COSPAR ID | 1997-044A |
SATCAT no. | 24909![]() |
Mission duration | 1-3 years (planned) 3 days (achieved) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Bus | |
Manufacturer | TRW |
Launch mass | 288 kilograms (635 lb) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 23 August 1997, 06:51:01 | UTC
Rocket | LMLV-1 (Athena I) |
Launch site | Vandenberg SLC-6 |
Contractor | Lockheed Martin |
End of mission | |
Last contact | 26 August 1997 |
Decay date | 28 September 1997 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Low Earth |
Perigee altitude | 124 kilometers (77 mi) Planned: 523 kilometres (325 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 134 kilometers (83 mi) Planned: 523 kilometres (325 mi) |
Inclination | 97.5 degrees |
Epoch | 23 August 1997, 02:51:01 UTC[1] |
Instruments | |
Lewis was an American satellite which was to have been operated by NASA as part of the . It carried two experimental Earth imaging instruments, and an ultraviolet astronomy payload. Due to a design flaw it failed within three days of reaching orbit, before it became operational.
Lewis was a 288 kilograms (635 lb) spacecraft, which was designed to operate for between one and three years.[2] It was built by TRW under a contract which was signed on 11 July 1994.[2] Its primary instruments were the , the and the experiment.[3] A number of technology demonstration payloads were also flown.
Launch[]
Lewis was launched by a LMLV-1 (Athena I) rocket flying from Space Launch Complex 6 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base.[4] The launch was originally scheduled to take place in September 1996, but it was delayed due to technical problems affecting the rocket.[5] Launch finally occurred at 06:51:01 GMT on 23 August 1997, and Lewis was successfully placed into a parking orbit with an apogee of 134 kilometres (83 mi), a perigee of 124 kilometres (77 mi), and 97.5 degrees of inclination. Lewis was to have raised itself into a higher orbit, at an altitude of 523 kilometres (325 mi).[3]
Mission failure[]
On 26 August, the satellite began spinning out of control at a rate of 2 rpm, which led to a loss of communications with ground controllers, and affected the ability of its solar arrays to generate power.[6] Controllers were unable to regain contact with the spacecraft,[7] and it was declared a total loss. It reentered the atmosphere at 11:58 GMT on 28 September 1997.[8] The cause of the failure was later established to be a design flaw in the spacecraft's attitude control system, which had been designed for the TOMS-EP spacecraft and was not sufficiently modified to be compatible with Lewis.[9]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Trajectory Details". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ a b Wade, Mark. "Lewis". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on June 18, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
- ^ a b Krebs, Gunter. "Lewis (SSTI-1)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
- ^ "NASA loses contact with Lewis craft". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. August 28, 1997. p. 5A. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
- ^ Isbell, Douglas; Koris, Sally (August 26, 1997). "Lewis Spacecraft encounters difficulties". NASA/TRW. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
- ^ "Doomed satellite re-enters atmosphere". CNN. September 28, 1997. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
- ^ "Lewis spacecraft". ASTRONET. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
- ^ Isbell, Douglas (June 23, 1998). "Lewis spacecraft failure board report released". NASA. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
- Spacecraft launched in 1997