On 20 December 2002, at 8pm, Moscow time, ISC Kosmotras launched a
structural test article of the Trailblazer™ lunar mission. This
launch is a major milestone in the Trailblazer™ program and allowed Transorbital®
to test the interface between TransOrbital® and ISC Kosmotras, the interface between the spacecraft and
Dnepr launch vehicle, separation of the spacecraft and the Dnepr, downlink
telemetry, and various aspects of the launch process.
Prior to launch, ISC Kosmotras requires all spacecraft customers
to send structural test articles to the test facilities at the
Yuzhnoye Design Office, Dniepropetrovsk, Ukraine. These test
articles are mechanically identical to the spacecraft but contain
no electronics, propulsion, or other active systems. At the
Design Office, they undergo a fit check - to ensure that no
part of the spacecraft contacts part of the Dnepr or another payload
item, vibration tests - to ensure that they withstand the rigors of launch,
and a separation test - to ensure that all payloads separate cleanly
from the adapter platform in orbit.
Trailblazer™ had originally been scheduled to be carried on the
20 December Dnepr launch, but was delayed by difficulties in obtaining
the necessary ITAR export permit from the U.S. State Department (since resolved).
ISC Kosmotras constructed the Test Article to TransOrbital® specifications,
and tested it in November. Provided that we make no major structural changes to the spacecraft,
it is now cleared for launch on the Dnepr rocket.
Because the Dneprwas already configured for the Trailblazer™,
and would have had to be ballasted with dead mass, Kosmotras simply launched the
Trailblazer™Test Article. This allowed us to gather further information on
and experience with the payload integration and launch processes, the
telemetry and tracking processes, and other aspects of the launch and flight.
In addition to the TrailBlazer™ test satellite, 5 other spacecraft were
carried from Italy, Saudi Arabia, Germany, and the United States of America. Please visit the
ISC Kosmotras website for a complete description of the
launch and the other payloads that were carried. Additional pictures of the Trailblazer™ Test Article and the other spacecraft
launched are shown in the Photo Gallery.
Click here for complete text of the press release.
To view the orbit of TrailBlazer™ Test Article Satellite
Go to Heavens-above.com and:
Log-on, if you already have an account, or Register as a new user.
On the "Heavens-Above Main Page", click "Select a satellite from the
"database" under the "Satellites" menu on the left side of the page.
Enter the "U.S. Space Command ID" "27609" or the name Trailblazer
and click on the "Submit" button.
Click on "TrailBlazer"to view the orbit.
A Earth view , with the test article's orbit and current position will
appear.
Click on "Home" at the top of the page to configure your own viewing
location.
On "Passes" to view information about each orbit.
And "Orbit" for multiple views of the orbit.
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