William Atkins
Saturday, 31 January 2009 22:08
Science -
Space
Page 2 of 4
The orbital coordinates of the pair of satellites was classified by the U.S. military, along with their design specifications, capabilities, and their mission in space.
Media reports state that it is known that Lockheed Martin (Bethesda, Maryland) built one of the satellites and Orbital Sciences Corporation (Dulles, Virginia) built the other one.
According to the Center for Defense Information, each one weighs 225 kilograms (500 pounds) on Earth and contain nine strap-on motors and a 9.5-meter payload fairing. [CDI: “
CDI Fact Sheet: MiTEx (Micro-satellite Technology Experiment)”]
According to the July 14, 2006 CDI article,
“The MiTEx microsatellites are a part of Microsatellite Demonstration Science and Technology Experiment Program (MiDSTEP), a joint program between the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Air Force. MiDSTEP, together with a program known as System F6, falls under DARPA’s Program Element 0603287E. $43 million was allocated to both these programs from fiscal year 2005 (FY 05) to FY 07.”
According to SecureWorldFoundation.org's article "
DARPA’s Potential Space Weapons Programs" (pdf file),
“The Microsatellite Demonstration Science and Technology Experiment Program (MiDSTEP) will develop the advanced technologies, capabilities, and space environment characterization required to demonstrate a suite of advanced lightweight microsatellite technologies integrated into high performance microsatellites across the continuum from low earth orbit (LEO) to deep space super geo-synchronous (GEO) environment."
It adds,
"The program will integrate a variety of advanced technologies, which have not been previously flight-tested, and may include: lightweight optical space surveillance/situational awareness sensors, lightweight power, chemical and electric propulsion systems, advanced lightweight structures, advanced miniature radio frequency (RF) technology including micro crosslink and use of commercial off the shelf (COTS) approaches, active RF sensor technology, COTS processor and software environment, miniature navigation technologies, including the use of starfields for deep space navigation, and autonomous operations."
Page three continues with more on the story of spy satellites that spy on other spy satellites.
