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Simplesat is an engineering experiment in the form of a small satellite.
It will try to determine whether an inexpensive satellite can be constructed
from commercial parts and survive in orbit. It contains a GPS receiver
capable of determining the orientation of the satellite. This orientation
information will be used to try to control the pointing direction of the
small telescope onboard the satellite.
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Simplesat was launched on August 10, 2001 on the Orbiter Discovery for
mission STS-105. After visiting the Space Station the crew will use a spring
ejection system to place Simplesat in its own orbit. The Orbiter will then
return to Kennedy Space Center.
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SimpleSat in a HitchHiker
Can in the Space Shuttle Payload
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Earth hangs above the Orbiter
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Simplesat will orbit the Earth for about 5 months before atmospheric drag
will cause it to re-enter. During that time engineers at Goddard Space
Flight Center will attempt to communicate with Simplesat using ham radio
style equipment.
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