TacSat-3

Image:Tacsat-3 080717-F-2907C-105.jpg TacSat-3 uses a standard satellite bus developed and provided by ATK.

The payload consists of a two mirror Ritchey–Chrétien telescope plus correction optics, with a focus device incorporated in the secondary mirror unit, and with a slit Offner spectrometer. The spectrometer uses the ARTEMIS hyperspectral imaging sensor (HSI), which is a single HgCdTe Focal Plane Array covering the entire V/NIR/SWIR spectrum from 400 nm to 2500 nm at a uniform resolution of 5 nm. ARTEMIS measures first the spectral information at each point on the ground in 400 spectral channels. HSI data cubes obtained by ARTEMIS are then handled by a reprogrammable digital signal processor with 16 gigabit data storage capability to generate on-board products and for in-theater downlink.{{cite news|url=https://www.af.mil/News/story/id/123144823/|title=TacSat-3 to demonstrate rapid delivery of imagery|website=aF.mil|publisher=377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs|first=Michael P.|last=Kleiman|date=April 17, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419165814/http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123144823|archive-date=April 19, 2009}} [http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/TacSat_3_To_Demonstrate_Rapid_Delivery_Of_Imagery_999.html Alt URL]{{cite thesis|url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA516855.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007135927/http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=ADA516855|url-status=live|archive-date=7 October 2012|title=Analysis of Slewing and Attitude Determination Requirements for CTEx|publisher=Air Force Institute of Technology|first=William J. Jr.|last=Starr|date=March 12, 2010|access-date=November 28, 2010}} {{PD-notice}} TacSat-3's main focus is land-based HSI.{{cite conference|url=http://www.responsivespace.com/Papers/RS4/Papers/RS4_4003P_Davis.pdf |title=Development of the Tactical Satellite 3 for Responsive Space Missions|conference=4th Responsive Space Conference, Los Angeles, April 24–27, 2006|publisher=ResponsiveSpace.com|first1=Thomas M. |last1=Davis|first2=Stanley D.|last2=Straight|year=2006|access-date=September 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417100948/http://www.responsivespace.com/Papers/RS4/Papers/RS4_4003P_Davis.pdf|archive-date=April 17, 2012}} According to Peter Wegner from the Operationally Responsive Space Office, TacSat-3 cost US$90 million.{{cite news|url=http://www.spacenews.com/article/rapidly-delivered-systems|title=Rapidly Delivered Systems|publisher=SpaceNews|first=Turner |last=Brinton|date=August 30, 2010|access-date=October 25, 2010}}

Image:TacSat3 launch 090518-F-9999B-001.jpg

In January 2009, the Air Force announced that a malfunctioning component has postponed the launch date on its Minotaur launch vehicle.{{cite news |url=https://www.afmc.af.mil/news/story?id=123131091|title=Malfunctioning Component Delays Satellite Launch|website=afmc.af.mil|publisher=377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs|first=Michael P.|last=Kleiman |date=January 13, 2009|access-date=September 2, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314144835/http://www.afmc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123131091|archive-date=March 14, 2012}} {{PD-notice}} However, in March 2009 it was announced that the component issues had been resolved and a launch date was set for 5 May 2009.{{cite news|url=https://www.afmc.af.mil/news/story?id=123141387|title=Launch date established for Tactical Satellite-3|website=afmc.af.mil|publisher=377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs|first=Michael P.|last=Kleiman|date=March 25, 2009|access-date=September 2, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625231852/http://www.afmc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123141387|archive-date=June 25, 2013}} {{PD-notice}} The 5 May 2009 launch attempt was scrubbed and a new launch date was set for 19 May 2009, with a backup date of 20 May 2009. The launch occurred successfully at 23:55 UTC on 19 May 2009, 20 minutes into a launch window running from 23:35 to 03:30 UTC each night.{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/missions/tacsat3.html|title=TacSat-3 Information|publisher=NASA|date=May 20, 2009|access-date=September 2, 2013}} {{PD-notice}}

The first attempt to launch TacSat-3 was made on 6 May 2009, during a window running from 00:00-03:00 UTC. However, due to thunderstorms and very low ceilings which prevented the surveillance plane from taking off, this launch attempt was scrubbed and the next attempt was scheduled for 8 May 2009 during the same window. The 8 May 2009 attempt was also scrubbed due to thunderstorms and heavy rain, which once again, prevented the surveillance plane from being able to take off. Another attempt was scheduled for the next day on 9 May 2009, again with the same window. Although the weather cooperated better for the 9 May 2009 attempt, a launch support equipment problem caused a delay of approximately three hours past the scheduled launch time. This problem was resolved and the countdown resumed. However, with 2 minutes and 16 seconds left on the countdown clock, an unexpected hold was called.{{cite web|title=NASA Wallops|url=https://twitter.com/NASA_Wallops|website=twitter.com|date=2009-05-08|access-date=2009-05-11}} Several minutes later, this launch attempt was also scrubbed due to low electrical voltage on the AGC of the Flight Termination System. A new launch date was set for 19 May 2009 with 20 May 2009 as a backup date.

The spacecraft was successfully launched at 23:55 UTC on 19 May 2009 after a small delay to remove off shore boaters from the exclusion area.

Image:100618-F-9999X-001.jpg]]

TacSat-3 achieved a HSI ground resolution of 4 meters, which enabled it to detect and identify tactical targets.{{cite conference|url=http://www.aiaa.org/documents/conferences/presentations/Payton.ppt |title=Future of Air Force Space|conference=AIAA New Horizons Forum, January 6, 2010|publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics|first=Gary|last=Payton|year=2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305154720/http://www.aiaa.org/documents/conferences/presentations/Payton.ppt|archive-date=March 5, 2010}} After a successful completion of a one-year experimental phase, and the acquisition of more than 2100 images, TacSat-3 was handed over to the Air Force in June 2010 as a full-time operational asset. It is the first hyperspectral satellite with the ability to provide reconnaissance within 10 minutes after passing overhead. Field commanders using tactical radio equipment, such as the AN/PRC-117F Multiband Manpack Radio, can directly communicate with the satellite in the ultra high frequency (UHF) band.{{cite news|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/06/11/artemis_goes_active/|title=New prototype U.S. spy satellite rushed into active use|newspaper=The Register |first=Lewis|last=Page|date=June 11, 2010|access-date=June 13, 2010}}{{cite news|url=http://www.govexec.com/defense/2008/01/air-force-working-on-cheaper-plug-and-play-satellites/26137/|title=Air Force working on cheaper plug-and-play satellites|publisher=Government Executive|first=Bob|last=Brewin|date=January 22, 2008|access-date=June 13, 2010}} {{PD-notice}}{{cite news |url=https://www.afmc.af.mil/news/story?id=123208690|title=Tactical Satellite-3 completes groundbreaking experimental mission|website=afmc.af.mil|publisher=377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs|first=Michael P. |last=Kleiman|date=June 10, 2010|access-date=September 2, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218215217/http://www.afmc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123208690|archive-date=February 18, 2013}} {{PD-notice}} TacSat-3/ARTEMIS observations of the National Mall and the Kilauea Volcano to support technical validation of the sensor have been released in June 2010. The released images comprise three of the more than 400 spectral bands.{{cite news|url=https://www.wpafb.af.mil/News/story/id/123210022/|title=Two image collects released by Tactical Satellite-3 demonstration program|website=wpafb.af.mil|publisher=377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs|first=Michael P.|last=Kleiman|date=June 18, 2010|access-date=September 2, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020155749/http://www.wpafb.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123210022|archive-date=October 20, 2012}} {{PD-notice}}

TacSat-3 completed operations on 15 February 2012. On 30 April 2012, following the decay of its orbit, TacSat-3 reentered the Earth's atmosphere and burned up.{{cite news|url=https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/?id=123300451|title=Space Command TacSat-3 burns up in atmosphere|website=vandenberg.af.mil|publisher=Air Force Space Command Public Affairs|date=May 2, 2012|access-date=September 2, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304104910/http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123300451|archive-date=March 4, 2013}} {{PD-notice}}{{cite web|url=http://www.aerospace.org/cords/reentry-predictions/past-reentries-2012/2009028a/|title=Tacsat-3|publisher=Aerospace.org|date=April 30, 2012|access-date=September 2, 2013|archive-date=9 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509045608/http://www.aerospace.org/cords/reentry-predictions/past-reentries-2012/2009028a/}}

File:TacSat3Bus.png|TacSat-3 bus during integration

File:TacSat3 testing.jpg|TacSat-3 at final integration and testing

File:14inch RCOpticalSystems2.jpg|35 cm Ritchey-Chrétien telescope

File:Tacsat3 theater reconnaissance.png|Tactical theater reconnaissance

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{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100615191319/http://directory.eoportal.org/get_announce.php?an_id=14941 TacSat-3 Information] - includes information about ARTEMIS
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110708091016/http://www.brandywineoptics.com/pubs/DSS2006.pdf Survey and Analysis of Fore-Optics for Hyperspectral Imaging Systems]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110724193339/http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=1-600-625-3685&kw=&st=0 RC Optical Systems 16" f/8.4 Ritchey-Chrétien Carbon Fiber Optical Tube]: summary of design specifics and close-up of Ritchey-Chrétien Secondary Focuser

{{TacSat}}

{{AFRL spacecraft}}

{{Orbital launches in 2009}}

Category:Spacecraft launched in 2009

Category:Spacecraft launched by Minotaur rockets

Category:Spacecraft which reentered in 2012