# TiPS 1b

> American research satellite, and half of a space tether experiment

**Wikidata**: [Q136089296](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q136089296)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/tips-1b

## Summary
TiPS 1b is an American research satellite that formed one half of the Tethers in Space Physics Satellite (TiPS) space-tether experiment. Operated by the United States Naval Research Laboratory, it was launched into low Earth orbit on 12 May 1996 aboard a Titan IV from Vandenberg Air Force Base.

## Key Facts
- Instance type: tethered satellite (part of a two-satellite tether experiment).  
- Part of: Tethers in Space Physics Satellite (TiPS), a pair of American space tether research satellites.  
- Operator: United States Naval Research Laboratory (NRL).  
- Manufacturer(s): United States Naval Research Laboratory and AlliedSignal.  
- Launch date and time: 1996-05-12 at 21:32:00 (UTC).  
- Launch vehicle: Titan IV (configuration K-22).  
- Launch site / start point: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East (Vandenberg SLC-4E).  
- Mass: 10.8 kilograms.  
- Orbit regime: low Earth orbit.  
- COSPAR ID: 1996-029F.  
- Satellite catalog number (SCN): 23937.  
- Aliases: USA-124; Tethers in Space Physics Satellite 1b; TiPS Norton; Norton.  
- Launched alongside: TiPS 1a and other payloads (listed for the launch event).

## FAQs
### Q: What was TiPS 1b's primary purpose?
A: TiPS 1b served as one half of an American space-tether research experiment (the Tethers in Space Physics Satellite pair) to support scientific study of tether-related space physics. It functioned as a research satellite under the United States Naval Research Laboratory.

### Q: When and how was TiPS 1b launched?
A: TiPS 1b was launched on 12 May 1996 at 21:32:00 UTC from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East aboard a Titan IV (K-22) rocket.

### Q: Who built and operated TiPS 1b?
A: The satellite was manufactured by the United States Naval Research Laboratory with AlliedSignal and operated by the United States Naval Research Laboratory.

### Q: How large or heavy was TiPS 1b?
A: TiPS 1b had a mass of 10.8 kilograms.

### Q: Under what identifiers is TiPS 1b cataloged?
A: TiPS 1b has COSPAR ID 1996-029F and satellite catalog number (SCN) 23937; it is also known as USA-124.

## Why It Matters
TiPS 1b is significant as a dedicated research satellite within an experimental pair designed to advance understanding of tether systems in space. Space tethers are an area of active research because they can enable novel propulsion, momentum-exchange, and electrodynamic interactions with the space environment; experimental flights like TiPS provide in-situ data that ground tests and simulations cannot fully reproduce. As one half of the TiPS pair, TiPS 1b was part of a coordinated experiment that allowed scientists and engineers to study relative dynamics, tether behavior, and space-plasma interactions between connected spacecraft. Operated by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and launched on a Titan IV, TiPS 1b represents a focused, government-backed effort to test tether concepts in low Earth orbit, contributing hardware, flight experience, and operational data to the broader field of space tether research.

## Notable For
- Being one half of the TiPS tethered-satellite experiment (a two-satellite tether research mission).  
- Operated and manufactured (in part) by the United States Naval Research Laboratory, with AlliedSignal as a co-manufacturer.  
- Launch aboard a heavy-lift Titan IV (K-22) from Vandenberg SLC-4E on 12 May 1996.  
- Small research satellite mass: 10.8 kg.  
- Cataloged as COSPAR 1996-029F and satellite catalog number 23937 (also known as USA-124).

## Body

### Overview
- Name: TiPS 1b (aliases: USA-124; Tethers in Space Physics Satellite 1b; TiPS Norton; Norton).  
- Role: Research satellite forming one half of a tethered pair used for space-tether physics experiments.  
- Operator: United States Naval Research Laboratory (NRL).

### Mission and Role
- TiPS 1b was part of the Tethers in Space Physics Satellite program, a two-satellite experiment focused on tether-related research in low Earth orbit.  
- The satellite served as one end of a tethered system to enable experimental investigation of tether dynamics and interactions in the space environment.

### Launch Details
- Launch date/time: 1996-05-12 at 21:32:00 (UTC).  
- Launch vehicle: Titan IV, configuration K-22.  
- Launch site: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E).  
- Launch manifest: The launch event included TiPS 1a and additional payloads listed for the same launch.

### Physical Characteristics
- Mass: 10.8 kg.  
- Imaging: Public image available showing TiPS 1a (bottom left) and TiPS 1b (top right).

### Manufacturing and Ownership
- Manufacturer(s): United States Naval Research Laboratory and AlliedSignal.  
- Operator and owner: United States Naval Research Laboratory.

### Orbit and Identifiers
- Orbit regime: Low Earth orbit.  
- COSPAR ID: 1996-029F.  
- Satellite catalog number (SCN): 23937.  
- Country of origin / registration: United States.

### Related Hardware and Context
- Part of the Tethers in Space Physics Satellite pair.  
- The tethered-satellite concept places two spacecraft connected by a cable to study tether dynamics and physics; TiPS 1b was one element of that configuration.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "TiPS 1b",
  "description": "TiPS 1b is an American research satellite that formed one half of the Tethers in Space Physics Satellite (TiPS) space-tether experiment, operated by the United States Naval Research Laboratory and launched 12 May 1996.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367"
  ],
  "additionalType": "tethered satellite"
}

## References

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