Multi-Application Survivable Tether
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The Multi-Application Survivable Tether (MAST) experiment is a picosatellite-based investigation of spacecraft connected by tethers. It will aid understading the survivability of tethers in outer space. It was launched as a secondary payload on a Dnepr rocket on 17 April, 2007 as a part of the CubeSat program. It includes three picosatellites which, once on orbit, will separate and deploy a Template:Km to mi tether. The experiment hardware was designed under a NASA Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) collaboration between Tethers Unlimited, Inc. (TUI) and Stanford University, with TUI developing the tether, tether deployer, tether inspection subsystem, satellite avionics, and software, and Stanford students developing the satellite structures and assisting with the avionics design.[1]
The experiment is currently on-orbit. As of 25 April 2007, TUI had made contact with the "Gadget" picosatellite, but not with "Ted", the tether-deployer picosatellite.[2] Researchers believe Ted has separated from Gadget, and at least a portion of the tether has been deployed.
See also
References
- ^ "The MAST Experiment". Tethers Unlimited.
- ^ "MAST Blog". Tethers Unlimited.
External links
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