The Micro-satellite Technology Experiment (MiTEx) is a microsatellite

Miniaturized satellite

Miniaturized satellites or small satellites are artificial satellites of unusually low weights and small sizes, usually under . While all such satellites can be referred to as small satellites, different classifications are used to categorize them based on mass .One reason for miniaturizing...

-based mission launched into geosynchronous orbit June 21, 2006 aboard a Delta II

Delta II

Delta II was an American space launch system, originally designed and built by McDonnell Douglas. Delta II is part of the Delta rocket family and was in service from 1989 until November 1, 2011...

 rocket. The US Air Force described the mission as a "technology demonstration" for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the U.S. Air Force

United States Air Force

The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...

 and the U.S. Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

.

MiTEx consists of three spacecraft; two inspection satellites, designated USA-187 and USA-188, and an experimental upper stage, designated USA-189. The two inspection satellites were initially used to inspect each other, however they were later used to inspect DSP-23, a failed missile detection satellite, to find out why it stopped operating.

Development

MiTEx was developed with funding from the Microsatellite Demonstration Science and Technology Experiment Program (MiDSTEP). Funding for MiDSTEP (and thus MiTEx) is allocated to DARPA through the "Space Programs and Technology" element of the United States Department of Defense

United States Department of Defense

The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...

 (DoD) "Advanced Technology Development" budget item. DoD budget documents from February 2008 show costs of MiDSTEP in 2007 of US$8 million, in 2008 of $10 million, and in 2009 of $8 million.. Dr. Owen C. Brown was the program manager for the design, integration, test, launch, and demonstration of MiTEx, while he was a program manager in the Tactical Technology Office (TTO) at DARPA .

Launch

The satellites were launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 17 on 21 June 2006 at 21:34 UTC using a Delta II carrier rocket flying in a 7925-9.5 configuration. The two inspection satellites were lifted to geosynchronous orbit by a fourth stage of a new, experimental design. The stage was developed at the United States Naval Research Laboratory

United States Naval Research Laboratory

The United States Naval Research Laboratory is the corporate research laboratory for the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps and conducts a program of scientific research and development. NRL opened in 1923 at the instigation of Thomas Edison...

, and it is reportedly equipped with photovoltaic arrays for power.

Mission

Because of their small dimensions (with a mass of 225 kg (496 lb) each), the satellites are hard to detect in their geosynchronous orbit, and thus could approach and examine other satellites without being noticed. After completion of their primary mission, the satellites were parked on opposite sites of Earth. During the 2nd week of 2009 the MiTEx satellites were commanded to approach DSP-23, which had failed two months earlier, and had started to drift by 1 deg East from its own parking position at 8.5deg East. The MiTEx satellite parked over the mid-Atlantic rendezvoused with DSP-23 around Dec 23, 2009, followed by the 2nd MiTEx satellite one week later.

External links

• http://pajamasmedia.com/richardfernandez/2009/01/15/and-now-micro-satellites/
• http://www.thespacereview.com/article/670/1