TacSat-4 Early Flight Operations Including Lessons From Integration, Test, And Launch Processing

• Main Authors: Duffey, Tim, Hurley, Mike, Raynor, Bill, Specht, Trevor, Weldy, Ken, Bradley, Eric, Amend, Chris, Rossland, Eric, Barnds, Jim, Akins, Keith, Raunen, Steve, Skalitzky, Bob, Koss, Steve, LaCava, Susie, Baldauff, Bob, Bentz, Doug, Johnson, Jeff, Hellrich, Fred, Anderson, Matt
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: DigitalCommons@USU 2012
• Subjects: Kodiak; Alaska
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/smallsat/2012/all2012/19; https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1025&context=smallsat

TacSat-4 is an experimental Ultra High Frequency (UHF) communications satellite that launched on a Minotaur IV+ from Kodiak, Alaska on September 27, 2011. The spacecraft and ground capabilities are briefly described for context. The integration, testing, launch processing, early flight operations, and initial end user results are then discussed. Unique approaches and lessons learned are highlighted. For example, the “launch powered off” approach used to test new Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) bus standards worked particularly well, and had several benefits during launch processing. The ORS Office is leading the Joint Military Utility Assessment of the TacSat-4 mission.