Prisma (satellite project)

For the Italian spacecraft with similiar name, see PRISMA (spacecraft).

Prisma is a satellite project led by the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) which consist of two satellites that fly in formation.^[1] Prisma is operated in collaboration with CNES, the French space agency, which provides the radiofrequency metrology system that enables the satellites to fly in close formation while autonomously avoiding collisions.^[3]

Prisma

Prisma satellite during integration
Mission type	Technology demonstrator
Operator	Swedish National Space Board, DLR, CNES
COSPAR ID	Mango: 2010-028B Tango: 2010-028F
SATCAT no.	Mango: 36599 Tango: 36827
Mission duration	1 year planned 14 years, 7 months and 28 days elapsed
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer	Saab Ericsson Space, Omnisys Instruments, ECAPS
Launch mass	Mango: 145 kg (320 lb) Tango: 50 kg (110 lb)
Dimensions	Mango: 80 cm × 130 cm (31 in × 51 in) Tango: 80 cm × 31 cm (31 in × 12 in)
Power	Mango: 300 watts Tango: 90 watts
Start of mission
Launch date	15 June 2010, 14:42:16 UTC (2010-06-15UTC14:42:16Z)[1]
Rocket	Dnepr rocket
Launch site	Dombarovsky 370/13
Contractor	ISC Kosmotras
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Sun-synchronous
Semi-major axis	7,086 kilometres (4,403 mi)[2]
Perigee altitude	668.3 kilometres (415.3 mi)[2]
Apogee altitude	749 kilometres (465 mi)[2]
Inclination	98.4 degrees[2]
Period	99 minutes[2]
Epoch	24 March 2015, 11:08:39 UTC[2]

It was launched, along with the PICARD spacecraft, on 15 June 2010 on a Dnepr launcher from Dombarovskiy Cosmodrome, near Yasny, Russia. Its primary objective is to test autonomous formation flying.^[1][4] A secondary objective was to flight test a new monopropellant thruster using ammonium dinitramide (ADN) propellant.^[5]

On 12 August 2010, SSC reported that the two satellites, called Mango and Tango, had separated from each other for the first time.^[6]

References

1. "Successful launch of the Swedish Prisma satellites". Swedish Space Corporation. 15 June 2010. Archived from the original on 24 June 2010. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
2. "PRISMA (MANGO) Satellite details 2010-028B NORAD 36599". N2YO. 24 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
3. "PRISMA PROGRAMME SEEKS TO ACQUIRE EXPERTISE IN FORMATION FLYING" (Press release). Toulouse: CNES. June 22, 2006. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
4. Clark, Stephen (15 June 2010). "French Sun Satellite and Swedish Experiment Blast Off on Russian Rocket". Space.com. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
5. K. Anflo, et al., SSC09-II-4, EXPANDING THE ADN-BASED MONO PROPELLANT THRUSTER FAMILY (accessed 22 July 2014); K. Anflo, et al., SSC07-X-2, FLIGHT DEMONSTRATION OF NEW THRUSTER AND GREEN PROPELLANT TECHNOLOGY ON THE PRISMA SATELLITE (accessed 22 July 2014)
6. "The Swedish Prisma satellites have separated". Swedish Space Corporation. 12 August 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2010.

External links

• Spaceflight portal

• Prisma Satellites
• About Prisma