# FASTSAT-HSV01

> NASA technology demonstration small satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q5424491](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5424491)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FASTSAT)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/fastsat-hsv01

## Summary
FASTAT-HSV01 (Fast Affordable Science and Technology Satellite-Huntsville 01) is a NASA technology demonstration small satellite launched in November 2010. Operated primarily by the Marshall Space Flight Center, it served as a platform for demonstrating affordable small-satellite technologies and housed several experimental payloads, including the NanoSail-D2 solar sail.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Technology demonstration spacecraft; Small satellite (microsatellite class).
- **Launch Date:** November 20, 2010, at 01:25:00 UTC.
- **Launch Site:** Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska (Kodiak).
- **Launch Vehicle:** Minotaur IV (Flight 3).
- **Mass:** 149 kg (launch weight).
- **Dimensions:** 0.71 m (width) × 0.96 m (height) × 0.61 m (length).
- **Operators:** Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and Von Braun Center for Science & Innovation.
- **Manufacturers:** Marshall Space Flight Center, Von Braun Center for Science & Innovation, and Dynetics.
- **Orbit:** Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
- **Power Source:** Solar cells.
- **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 2010-062D; NSSDCA ID 2010-062D; SCN 37225; USA-220.
- **Mission End:** Retired in November 2012; decommissioned in May 2013.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary purpose of the FASTSAT-HSV01 mission?
A: The primary purpose was to serve as a technology demonstration platform to prove the capabilities of small, affordable satellites for future NASA missions.

### Q: What significant payload did FASTSAT-HSV01 carry?
A: The satellite carried NanoSail-D2, a technology demonstrator for a solar sail system, which was successfully deployed on January 17, 2011.

### Q: Who built and operated the FASTSAT-HSV01?
A: The satellite was a joint effort manufactured by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, the Von Braun Center for Science & Innovation, and Dynetics. It was operated by the Marshall Space Flight Center.

## Why It Matters
FASTAT-HSV01 represents a pivotal shift in NASA's approach to space exploration, emphasizing "Faster, Better, Cheaper" methodologies through the use of small satellites. By successfully demonstrating critical technologies in a compact 149 kg frame, the mission helped validate the use of microsatellites for complex scientific and technical operations that were previously reserved for larger, more expensive spacecraft.

The mission is particularly notable for the successful deployment of NanoSail-D2, a significant milestone in solar sail technology. This deployment demonstrated the feasibility of using atmospheric drag for deorbiting (passive deorbiting) and provided valuable data on propulsion alternatives that do not require traditional chemical fuels. The collaboration between NASA centers, academic institutions (Von Braun Center), and private industry (Dynetics) also served as a successful model for public-private partnerships in aerospace development.

## Notable For
- **Hybrid Technology Demonstration:** Combined multiple distinct technology and science experiments on a single, low-cost microsatellite bus.
- **NanoSail-D2 Deployment:** Successfully ejected the NanoSail-D2 payload, marking a successful return of solar sail technology for NASA after the loss of the original NanoSail-D.
- **Joint Development Model:** Developed under a collaborative partnership between a NASA center (MSFC), a non-profit research institute (VCSI), and a commercial contractor (Dynetics).
- **Cost-Effectiveness:** Designed explicitly to demonstrate the feasibility of "Fast, Affordable" science missions.

## Body

### Development and Specifications
FASTAT-HSV01 (Fast Affordable Science and Technology Satellite-Huntsville 01), also known as USA-220, was developed as a joint project between NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), the Von Braun Center for Science & Innovation (VCSI), and Dynetics. The spacecraft was designed to fit the criteria of a "small satellite" with a launch mass of 149 kilograms.

The satellite's structure is compact, measuring approximately 0.61 meters in length, 0.71 meters in width, and 0.96 meters in height. Power was generated via solar cells mounted on the spacecraft's body.

### Launch and Early Operations
The spacecraft was launched on November 20, 2010, at 01:25:00 UTC aboard a Minotaur IV rocket (Flight 3). The launch originated from the Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska. The launch contractor was Orbital Sciences Corporation. Following launch, the satellite entered a Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

### Mission Events and Payloads
During its operational life, FASTSAT-HSV01 served as a bus for several payloads. The most prominent event occurred on January 17, 2011, when the satellite successfully deployed **NanoSail-D2**. This payload was a solar sail technology demonstrator that ejected from the FASTSAT bus and unfurled its sail structure in orbit.

### End of Mission
The FASTSAT-HSV01 spacecraft continued to operate until its retirement in November 2012. The mission formally concluded with the spacecraft's decommissioning on May 20, 2013.

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## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/fastsat-hsv-01.htm)
2. [Source](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/fastsat/)
3. Jonathan's Space Report
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. [Source](https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20110015650/downloads/20110015650.pdf)
6. [Source](https://www.wired.com/2011/01/solar-sail-unfurls/)
7. [Source](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/fastsat/12-123.html)
8. [Source](https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/smallsat/2013/all2013/117/)
9. [Source](https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20120015792/downloads/20120015792.pdf)
10. [Source](https://llis.nasa.gov/llis_lib/pdf/1048255main_FASTSAT%20HSV-01%20Lessons%20Learned%2004-01-11a.pdf)