# AERCam Sprint

> free-flying robotic system on STS-87

**Wikidata**: [Q14942](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14942)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AERCam_Sprint)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/aercam-sprint

## Summary
AERCam Sprint is a free-flying robotic camera system deployed during the STS-87 Space Shuttle mission in 1997. It served as a technology demonstration for autonomous robotic operations in space.

## Key Facts
- **Mass:** 15.9 kilograms.
- **Diameter:** 35.5 centimeters.
- **Launch Date:** November 19, 1997.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Space Shuttle STS-87.
- **Operator:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
- **Power Source:** Lithium battery.
- **Classifications:** Space Shuttle experiment, microsatellite, technology demonstration, payload.
- **Related Entities:** Microsatellite (class), Space Shuttle (class).

## FAQs
### Q: What was AERCam Sprint used for?
A: AERCam Sprint was a free-flying robotic camera system deployed during the STS-87 mission to demonstrate autonomous robotic operations and remote viewing capabilities in space.

### Q: How was AERCam Sprint launched?
A: It was launched aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-87 on November 19, 1997, from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B.

### Q: What are the dimensions of AERCam Sprint?
A: It has a diameter of 35.5 centimeters and a mass of 15.9 kilograms.

### Q: What type of vehicle is AERCam Sprint classified as?
A: AERCam Sprint is classified as a microsatellite and a Space Shuttle experiment.

### Q: Who operated AERCam Sprint?
A: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) operated AERCam Sprint.

## Why It Matters
AERCam Sprint represented a significant step in developing autonomous free-flying robots for space applications. Its mission on STS-87 proved the feasibility of using small, self-propelled robotic systems for remote inspections and views in space environments without requiring astronauts to perform risky Extravehicular Activities (EVAs). This technology demonstration laid crucial groundwork for future advancements in robotic spacecraft autonomy, inspection capabilities for structures like the International Space Station, and the broader field of space robotics, highlighting the potential for more efficient and safer space operations.

## Notable For
- Pioneering free-flying robotic camera system deployed from a Space Shuttle.
- Classification as a microsatellite (under 200 kg).
- Early technology demonstration for autonomous robotic operations in space.
- Specific deployment on the STS-87 mission aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia.
- Compact design with a diameter of 35.5 cm.

## Body
### Technical Specifications
- **Mass:** 15.9 kilograms.
- **Diameter:** 35.5 centimeters.
- **Power Source:** Lithium battery.
- **Operator:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
- **Country of Origin:** United States.

### Mission Details
- **Launch Date:** November 19, 1997.
- **Mission:** STS-87.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Space Shuttle.
- **Launch Site:** Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B.
- **Mission Type:** Space Shuttle experiment, technology demonstration.
- **Deployment Status:** Free-flying robotic system.

### Classification & Context
- **Instance Of:** Space Shuttle experiment, microsatellite, technology demonstration, payload.
- **Related Classes:** Microsatellite, Space Shuttle.
- **Research Areas:** Robotics, autonomy.
- **Aliases:** Autonomous Extravehicular Activity Robotic Camera Sprint.
- **Described At:** https://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/assembly/sprint/ (English).

## References

1. [Source](https://er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/AERCAM/aercam.pdf)
2. [Source](https://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/assembly/sprint/)