UK Defence Research Agency the Two UK 'Space Technology Research Vehicles': First In-Orbit Results

The UK Defence Research Agency is about to launch two 50kg 'Space Technology Research Vehicles' which have as their major objective the demonstration and in-orbit evaluation of new technologies which have application to future space missions, both large and small. The STRVs are due for launch together on an Ariane 4 in June 1994 and will go into a geostationary transfer orbit which provides a very harsh (and therefore good) environment for the evaluation of the new technology. Areas of research for the mission include the use of advanced structural materials, use of new radiation hardened computers, sensors, solar cells and microelectronics, use of ADA software in a restricted memory space, demonstration of cryocoolers, measurement of electrostatic charge, elimination of electrostatic charge, measurement of atomic oxygen erosion, measurement of the incidence of cosmic rays and total dose radiation, improved battery charging techniques, and also the demonstration of key components from the UK ion thruster system. The two satellites not only carry a suite of 14 experiments between them, including experiments from BMDO, ESA and various universities but they also incorporate new technologies into the bus itself. This paper will give a full overview of the mission including a description of the in-orbit performance of the two spacecraft. Some of the main results from the early part of the mission with respect to spacecraft, subsystem and experiment performance will be presented together with a preview of the mission plan to follow during the remainder of the one year mission.