Fastrac 1 & 2

Formation Autonomy Spacecraft with Thrust, Relnav, Attitude and Crosslink
Also called USA 222

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General

Designation	37227 / 10062F
Launch date	20 Nov 2011
Country of origin	United States
Mission	Technology
Perigee/Apogee	650 km
Inclination
Period
Launch vehicle	Minotaur 4 #10

Built by the University of Texas. Two stacked satellites are to separate in orbit to test autonomous formation-flying through crosslink communications and GPS navigation.

One of the spacecraft also carries a micro-discharge plasma thruster.

To test 2 payloads: the microdischarge plasma thruster experiment and the GPS relative navigation experiment.
A civilian distributed ground station network is also to be tested.

Approx 15 kg each

Separation occured on 22 Mar 2011, Fastrac 2 is identified as 37380 / 10062M & USA 228.

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External resources

sat-index articles

n2yo.com tracking

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