Space Technology Research Vehicle
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| Operator | UK MoD |
|---|---|
| Major contractors | DRA |
| Mission type | Experimental |
| Launch date | 1994 June 17 07:07 UTC |
| Carrier rocket | Ariane 4 |
| Launch site | Kourou, French Guiana |
| COSPAR ID | 1994-034B & 1994-034C |
| SATCAT | 23125 & 23126 |
| Mass | 50 kg |
| Orbital elements | |
| Inclination | 7.1 deg |
| Apoapsis | 35,831 km |
| Periapsis | 284 km |
| Orbital period | 633 min |
| References: [1] | |
| Operator | UK MoD |
|---|---|
| Major contractors | DRA |
| Mission type | Experimental |
| Launch date | 2000 November 16 |
| Carrier rocket | Ariane 5 |
| Launch site | Kourou, French Guiana |
| COSPAR ID | 2000-072C & 2000-072D |
| SATCAT | 26610 & 26611 |
| Mass | 100 kg |
| Orbital elements | |
| Inclination | 6.4 deg |
| Apoapsis | 39,269 km |
| Periapsis | 615 km |
| Orbital period | 708 min |
| References: [2] | |
Space Technology Research Vehicle, or STRV was a series of British microsatellites which operated in elliptical orbits around the Earth. The satellites were built by the Defence Research Agency at Farnborough, for the UK Ministry of Defence.[3]
Mission
Built by the DRA, the satellites were designed to test new technologies in the harsh environment of an orbit. Each satellite had an expected 1 year life-time and carries myriad detectors, sensors and other equipment. The satellites were controlled from the DRA groundstation in the UK.[3] The STRV satellites' experiments measured various environmental variables in the upper atmosphere.[4]
Payloads
Two satellites were launched in June 1994 and another two were launched in November 2000, from the space center in French Guyana.[5]
STRV 1A & 1B
STRV 1A and STRV 1B are cube-shaped mini-satellites each with a mass of 50 kg. They were launched into orbit to test new solar cells and measure static charge on its surfaces.[6]
STRV 1C & 1D
STRV 1C and STRV 1D both have a mass of 100 kg and carry test technology devices including lithium ion batteries and a GPS receiver.[6]
Current Status
The satellites form a part of the growing amounts of orbital debris in orbit of Earth.
References
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