TACSAT-4 DESIGN LESSONS LEARNED TO DATE

摘要

Each TacSat experiment tests key elements needed foran operational system by taking frequent tangible stepsto spiral capability and receive operational feedback,while moving toward Operationally Responsive Space(ORS) block acquisitions. The TacSat-4 experiment'smission was selected by a Joint panel in October 2005.TacSat-4 has several ORS system level objectivesincluding using a prototype bus to mature spacecraft busstandards for acquisition and to fly in a "low" highlyelliptical orbit, enabling a new set of ORS missions thatrequire dwell, such as communications. TacSat-4 is alsoto provide a Communications-on-the-Move (COTM)and Data-Exfiltration (Data-X) payload which is quitechallenging for the low cost class and short schedules(1-2 years) that TacSats must support. Technically thispayload has significant radiation, thermal, deployment,and mass requirements. The payload Critical DesignReview will be held in summer 2006 and an antennaengineering model prototype will be well underway.This paper discusses all the TacSat-4 mission objectives,but focuses primarily on the design of the payload andthe lessons learned to date.