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STARE A, B, C (Re, Horus)

STARE [LLNL]

STARE (Space-Based Telescopes for Actionable Refinement of Ephemeris) are a series of three-unit CubeSats (called 3U CubeSats) equipped with optical imaging payloads, that will demonstrate the main elements of a new concept for tracking orbiting space debris.

STARE is a project of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories. The STARE satellites are using the Boeing-built Colony II bus developed under a contract with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

LLNL has conducted a spiral development of the STARE technology through 3 pathfinders. Each pathfinder is a 3U CubeSat and each builds upon technology maturation developed on the previous pathfinder.

  • The first pathfinder, STARE-A or Re, was launched on the NROL 36 OUTSat (Operationally Unique Technologies Satellite) mission on 13 September 2012 and has experienced communication issues being investigated in the spring/summer of 2013. This first pathfinder has a Cassegrain telescope and an attitude control capability limited to torque coils.
  • The second pathfinder, STARE-B or Horus, implementing a full set of reaction wheels for attitude control and a more sensitive imager, is manifested to launch on the ORS-3 mission (with STPSat-3) and launched in November of 2013. The satellite was successfully deployed in orbit, but no signals were received.
  • The third pathfinder, STARE-C, implementing improved reaction wheels and a compact and robust optical telescope, was expected to launch at a later date, but was cancelled.
Nation: USA
Type / Application: Space surveillance, technology
Operator: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories
Contractors: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories (prime); Boeing (bus)
Equipment: STARE telescope
Configuration: CubeSat (3U)
Propulsion: None
Power: 4 deployable fixed solar arrays, batteries
Lifetime:
Mass: 4 kg
Orbit: 770 km × 480 km, 64°
Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
STARE A (Re) 2012-048H 13.09.2012 Va SLC-3E Atlas-5(401) with Intruder 11, Intruder 12, Aeneas, CINEMA 1, CSSWE, CXBN, AeroCube 4A, AeroCube 4B, AeroCube 4C, CP 5, OUTSat
STARE B (Horus) 2013-064T 20.11.2013 WI LA-0B Minotaur-1 with STPSat 3, ORS 3, ORSES, ORS Tech 1, ORS Tech 2, SENSE 1, SENSE 2, Ho`oponopono 2, Firefly, Prometheus 1.1, ..., 1.8, Black Knight 1, NPS-SCAT, COPPER, ChargerSat 1, TJ3Sat, Trailblazer 1, Vermont Lunar Cubesat, SwampSat, CAPE 2, DragonSat 1, KySat 2, PhoneSat v2.4
STARE C - cancelled with ?

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