Hermes (satellite)
| Mission type | Technology |
|---|---|
| Operator | COSGC |
| Mission duration | Failed to orbit |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | 1U CubeSat |
| Launch mass | 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 4 March 2011, 10:09:43 UTC |
| Rocket | LC-576E |
| Contractor | Orbital |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
Hermes was an American
Colorado Space Grant Consortium. Intended to perform technology demonstration experiments in low Earth orbit
, it was lost during launch in March 2011 when the rocket that was carrying it failed to achieve orbit.
Hermes was a single-unit
picosatellite which was primarily designed to test communications systems for future satellites. It was intended to test a new system which would allow data to be transferred at a higher rate than on previous satellites, thereby enabling future missions to return more data from scientific experiments or images. A secondary objective was to have seen tests performed upon the satellite bus, which was to have served as the basis for future COSGC missions.[1] The satellite would also have returned data on the temperature and magnetic field of its surroundings.[2]
Hermes was launched by
reentered over the southern Pacific Ocean or the Antarctic.[4][5] It was the second consecutive failure of a Taurus rocket, following the loss of the Orbiting Carbon Observatory in 2009.[5]
References
- ^ "Science Objectives". Hermes. Colorado Space Grant Consortium. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
- ^ Gunter, Krebs. "Hermes". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
- ^ Harwood, William (4 March 2011). "NASA science satellite lost in Taurus launch failure". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
- ^ a b McDowell, Jonathan (16 March 2011). "Issue 639". Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
 | This article about one or more spacecraft of the United States is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |