XSS 10

XSS 10 (Experimental Satellite System 10) was a small, experimental military satellite, developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory at the United States Air Force to test proximity operations to other spacecraft.

Construction

XSS 10 was built by Boeing and weighed 28 kg at the start. As the mission duration was only one day, the power supply could be ensured by a lithium -polymer battery. She was equipped with a two-component hypergolic propulsion system that was derived from the LEAP warhead of the SM -3 anti-missile weapon. Furthermore, a navigation system, a lightweight communication system and an integrated camera and star sensor system on board were.

Mission

XSS 10 was launched on 29 January 2003 as a secondary payload on a Delta II 7925 rocket from the Cape Canaveral AFS in a low orbit of 518 × 805 km and an inclination of 39.8 ° and led over 24 hours in his experiments.

After separation, the third stage with the main payload, the satellite navigation GPS 2R 8, XSS led to 10 maneuvers the second stage of the Delta II launcher that came with the satellite in the orbit, by. The Satellite moved here at a distance of approximately 100 meters to the rocket stage. It captured images of the second stage have been published. The mission was considered a success.

The experiments were continued with the follow-on mission XSS 11 later for a longer period.