 | |
| Mission type | Communications |
|---|---|
| Operator | NASA |
| COSPAR ID | 2001-043A[1] |
| SATCATno. | 26929 |
| Mission duration | 1 year and 3 months |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | Naval Research Laboratory |
| Launch mass | 91 kg (201 lb) |
| Dimensions | 0.9 metres (2 ft 11 in) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 30 September 2001, 02:40 UTC |
| Rocket | Athena 1 LM-001 |
| Launch site | Kodiak LP-1 |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 21 January 2003 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Eccentricity | 0.0 |
| Altitude | 472 km (293 mi) |
| Inclination | 67° |
| Period | 94 minutes |
| Epoch | 30 September 2001 |
| Transponders | |
| Frequency | 145.825 MHz[2] |
Starshine 3 (also calledSO-43 andOSCAR 43) is one of five satellites in theStarshine project (Student Tracked Atmospheric Research Satellite for Heuristic International Equipment).
Starshine 3's main task was to study the density of the Earth'supper atmosphere. In addition, the 94 centimetres (37 in) and 91 kilograms (201 lb) heavy spherical satellite body was covered with 1,500mirrors, which were manufactured by machine technology students inUtah and polished by almost 40,000 students in 1,000 different schools. In addition, 31laser reflectors and a radio beacon in theamateur radiofrequency range (145.825 MHz) were attached. The transmitter was powered bysolar cells and batteries. Starshine 3 had neither drive nor position control.
The satellite, together with thePICOSat,PCSat andSAPPHIRE satellites, was launched on September 30, 2001 with anAthena I rocket fromKodiak Launch Complex,Alaska, USA.
Because of the mirrors, the satellite was visible to the naked eye fromEarth at night. Students measured the difference in the daily shortening orbital period and derived the density of theatmosphere. They also measured fluctuations in the intensity ofUV radiation from theSun, which they associated with different densities in the atmosphere.
Starshine 3 burned up on January 21, 2003 after 7,434 orbits in the Earth's atmosphere about two years earlier than originally expected.[3]
| Satellites |  | |
|---|---|---|
 | This article about one or more spacecraft of the United States is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
