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To: smokingfrog
Flywheel and magnetic coil control system, for attitude. No sizeable amount of fuel aboard apparentely

"The 6.4-m-long spacecraft is separated into four sections: (1) a precision mounting platform for sensors and equipment requiring precise alignment; (2) an equipment support module containing the electronics, reaction wheels, and some meteorological sensors; (3) a reaction control equipment support structure containing the third-stage rocket motor and supporting the ascent phase reaction control equipment; and (4) a 9.29-sq-m solar cell panel. The spacecraft stabilization is controlled by a combination flywheel and magnetic control coil system so that sensors are maintained in the desired earth-looking mode. One feature is the precision-pointing accuracy of the primary imager to 0.01 deg provided by a star sensor and an updated ephemeris navigation system. This allows automatic geographical mapping of the digital imagery to the nearest picture element."

48 posted on 03/02/2015 8:18:57 PM PST by CMB_polarization
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To: CMB_polarization

http://spacenews.com/20-year-old-military-weather-satellite-apparently-exploded-in-orbit/


50 posted on 03/02/2015 8:22:20 PM PST by CMB_polarization
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To: CMB_polarization

Sounds like a sophisticated spy satellite.


67 posted on 03/02/2015 8:49:35 PM PST by batterycommander (A little more rubble, a lot less trouble.)
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