The STEX satellite was launched from a Taurus rocket in October 1998 from Vandenberg AFB, Calif. It successfully tested 28 advanced technologies that offer potential for future satellite systems to operate more effectively and cost less.

Some of the advanced technology subsystems successfully tested on STEX include:

• Shockless separation mechanisms that will pave the way for future satellites to be designed for extremely low shock levels, saving cost and weight.
• Lightweight, high accuracy autonomous star trackers provided valuable data on their operation in low earth orbit and how to mitigate radiation effects.
• A 20 MHz RAD 6000 processor, the fastest in space, performed flawlessly and required no reboots.
• The largest solid state recorder in space (51 Gbits) was fully checked out and also performed perfectly.
• An electric propulsion engine from the Naval Research Laboratory was the first use of a Hall Effect thruster on a U.S. spacecraft.
• The advanced lightweight batteries had a 35% greater capacity than conventional batteries.
• High efficiency solar array concentrators focused 70% more light on the arrays than standard systems.
• Advanced dual junction solar cells provided 23% more power than standard solar cells. The STEX spacecraft was turned off in early June due to degradation of its conventional solar arrays.

MilSpace - SpaceDaily Special Report

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