Sparkie (satellite)

Sparkie

Mission type	Technology
Operator	ASU AFRL STP
Mission duration	Failed to orbit
Spacecraft properties
Launch mass	16 kilograms (35 lb)
Dimensions	46 x 30cm (six-sided) [1]
Start of mission
Launch date	December 21, 2004 (2004-12-21)
Rocket	Delta IV Heavy
Launch site	Cape Canaveral SLC-37B
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth
Epoch	Planned

Sparkie ^[2] (or 3CS-1) was a satellite, part of the Three Corner Satellite (3CS) project, a three satellite (Sparkie, Ralphie and Petey) student research project. It was designed and built by mostly undergraduate students at the Arizona State University as part of the Air Force Research Laboratory's University Nanosat Program. ^[3]

Sparky was responsible for structure, power and the attitude system in the 3CS project.

Satellite carries the name of Arizona State University's mascot, Sparky.

Sparky was launched on the first launch of the Delta IV Heavy rocket configuration, along with the Ralphie satellite, but both satellites failed to achieve orbit due to a problem with the rocket during launch. ^[4]

See also

• Petey (satellite)
• Ralphie (satellite)

References

1. "3CSat". Archived from the original on October 16, 2006. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
2. Wade, Mark. "Delta IV Heavy". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 20 November 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
3. Boeing (2004-12-01). "The DemoSat payload". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
4. Ray, Justin (2005-03-15). "Delta 4-Heavy investigation identifies rocket's problem" . Retrieved 2011-02-18.

External links

• ASU satellite prepares for tests, launch Archived 2011-07-19 at the Wayback Machine