# STPSat-5

> U.S. Air Force technology demonstration satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q135480150](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q135480150)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/stpsat-5

## Summary
STPSat-5 is a U.S. Air Force technology demonstration satellite operated by the Space Test Program. It was manufactured by Sierra Nevada Corporation, has an approximate mass of 115 kg, and was launched into a sun-synchronous orbit on 2018-12-03 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 (booster B1046, third flight B1046.3) from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East.

## Key Facts
- STPSat-5 is a U.S. Air Force technology demonstration spacecraft operated by the Space Test Program.  
- Launch date and time: 2018-12-03 at 18:34:05 (UTC).  
- Launch vehicle: Falcon 9 Block 5; launched on booster B1046 (noted as B1046.3 for the booster’s third flight).  
- Launch site: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East.  
- Orbit: placed into a sun-synchronous orbit.  
- Manufacturer: Sierra Nevada Corporation.  
- Approximate mass: 115 kilograms.  
- Power: supplied by two spacecraft solar arrays.  
- Identifiers: COSPAR ID / NSSDCA ID 2018-099E; SCN (satellite catalog number) 43762.  
- Category: instance of a technology demonstration spacecraft (spacecraft used to demonstrate experimental technologies).

## FAQs
### Q: What is STPSat-5?
A: STPSat-5 is a U.S. Air Force technology demonstration satellite operated by the Space Test Program, built by Sierra Nevada Corporation to carry experimental technologies into space.

### Q: When and how was STPSat-5 launched?
A: STPSat-5 was launched on 2018-12-03 at 18:34:05 UTC on a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East using booster B1046 (its third flight, B1046.3).

### Q: What orbit does STPSat-5 operate in?
A: STPSat-5 was placed into a sun-synchronous orbit.

### Q: How large and how is STPSat-5 powered?
A: The spacecraft has an approximate mass of 115 kg and is powered by two spacecraft solar arrays.

## Why It Matters
STPSat-5 serves as a platform for validating and demonstrating experimental space technologies under the U.S. Air Force’s Space Test Program. As a dedicated technology demonstration spacecraft, it allows new hardware and systems to be tested in representative space conditions—specifically a sun-synchronous orbit—which is valuable for assessing performance, reliability, and readiness before committing technologies to operational missions. Its relatively small mass (about 115 kg) illustrates the utility of compact satellites for focused test objectives. The mission also demonstrates the use of commercial launch vehicles (Falcon 9 Block 5) and reflight of boosters (B1046.3), reflecting interactions between military technology demonstration programs, commercial launch providers, and aerospace manufacturers such as Sierra Nevada Corporation. Collectively, STPSat-5 enables risk reduction for future programs, accelerates technology maturation, and supports the iterative advancement of space systems used by national defense and related research communities.

## Notable For
- Being a U.S. Air Force technology demonstration satellite operated by the Space Test Program.  
- Launch on a Falcon 9 Block 5 booster B1046 on its third flight (designated B1046.3).  
- Compact testbed mass of approximately 115 kg for technology demonstrations.  
- Deployment into a sun-synchronous orbit to support technology validation in a common operational regime.  
- Manufactured by Sierra Nevada Corporation and powered by two spacecraft solar arrays.

## Body

### Overview
- Name: STPSat-5 (Space Test Program Satellite - 5).  
- Type: Technology demonstration spacecraft (spacecraft used to demonstrate experimental technologies).  
- Country of origin / operator: United States / Space Test Program.

### Launch
- Launch date and time: 2018-12-03, 18:34:05 UTC.  
- Launch vehicle: Falcon 9 Block 5.  
- Booster: B1046 (flight indicated as B1046.3 for the booster’s third flight).  
- Launch site: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East.  
- Significant event: rocket launch from Vandenberg SLC-4E on 2018-12-03.

### Spacecraft details
- Manufacturer: Sierra Nevada Corporation.  
- Approximate mass: 115 kg (sourcing circumstance: approximately).  
- Power: two spacecraft solar arrays.  
- Instance of: technology demonstration spacecraft.

### Orbit and identifiers
- Operational orbit: sun-synchronous orbit.  
- COSPAR ID / NSSDCA ID: 2018-099E.  
- Satellite catalog number (SCN): 43762.

### Mission role and relationships
- Primary role: technology demonstration — to carry and test experimental technologies in orbit.  
- Follows: STPSat-3.  
- Followed by: STPSat-4.

### Administrative and classification data
- Country: United States.  
- Operator: Space Test Program.  
- Country of origin: United States.  
- Wikidata description (as provided): U.S. Air Force technology demonstration satellite.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "STPSat-5",
  "description": "STPSat-5 is a U.S. Air Force technology demonstration satellite launched on 2018-12-03 into a sun-synchronous orbit.",
  "additionalType": "technology demonstration spacecraft",
  "identifier": "COSPAR / NSSDCA ID: 2018-099E; SCN: 43762"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/stpsat-5.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report