Tiankun-1

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Tiankun-1
NamesTK-1
Mission type Technology demonstration
Operator CASIC
COSPAR ID 2017-012A [1]
SATCAT no. 42061 [1]
Mission duration4 years, 9 months and 15 days (elapsed)
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer CASIC
Launch mass50 kg (110 lb) [2]
Start of mission
Launch dateMarch 2, 2017 (2017-03-02)
Rocket Kaituozhe-2
Launch site Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center [3]
Contractor CASIC
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Semi-major axis 6,766 km (4,204 mi)
Perigee altitude 373.3 km (232.0 mi)
Apogee altitude 417.3 km (259.3 mi)
Inclination 97.2°
Period 92.3 minutes
 

Tiankun-1 (also known as TK-1) is a Chinese experimental technology demonstration satellite developed, operated, and launched by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC). It was launched on March 2, 2017, and is designed in order to test its satellite bus, [4] [5] as well as small satellite operations. [6]

Contents

Design

Tiankun-1 is a small satellite designed to test technologies meant for satellites of such sizes, as well as experiment with the operation of small satellites. With its small launch vehicles, China hopes to be able to get a share in the international small satellite launch market. [3] [6]

Tiankun-1's mission is to test out its satellite bus and performance in orbit. It would also be used for testing remote sensing and telecommunications technologies, as well as test out minisatellite-based experiments and operations. It is the first spacecraft to be developed by the CASIC as part of its plans to expand its commercial space plans. [5] [6]

Launch

Tiankun-1 was launched on board a Kaituozhe-2 rocket, which is a then-new small launch vehicle. It launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on March 2, 2017, at 07:53 CST (23:53 UTC) into a polar orbit. It was the Kaituozhe-2's first launch, and its first successful one. It was launched to a low Earth orbit with a perigee of 373.3 km (232.0 mi), an apogee of 417.3 km (259.3 mi) and an inclination of 97.2°. [1] [2]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Technical details for satellite TK-1". N2YO.com - Real Time Satellite Tracking and Predictions. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  2. 1 2 "Kaituozhe 2 | Tiankun-1". nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  3. 1 2 Barbosa, Rui C. (2017-03-03). "Experimental Tiankun-1 lofted during secretive KT-2 launch". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  4. "Tiankun 1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  5. 1 2 "NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  6. 1 2 3 "China launches new Kaituozhe-2 rocket with Tiankun-1 satellite". SpaceFlight Insider. 2017-03-03. Retrieved 2021-12-16.