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SAC-C Satellite
Mission Objectives
SAC-C is an international cooperative mission
between NASA, the Argentine Commission
on Space Activities (CONAE), Centre
National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES or the
French Space Agency), Instituto Nacional De
Pesquisas Espaciais (Brazilian Space
Agency), Danish Space Research Institute,
and Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (Italian Space
Agency). SAC-C was developed through the
partnership of its senior partners, CONAE
and NASA with contributions from Brazil,
Denmark, France, and Italy.
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The Scalar Helium Magnetometer (SHM) pro- nents and their variations along the same
vided by NASA/JPL will be part of the Danish time frame.
Magnetic Mapping Payload (MMP). The MMP
is designed to better understand the Earth’s • Italian Star Tracker (IST) will test a fully
geomagnetic field and related Sun-Earth autonomous system and orbit determina-
interactions. The MMP will provide continuous tion using a star tracker.
field measurements for a minimum of 12 • Whale Tracker Experiment, another
months with an accuracy of one part in Argentine experiment, will track the migra-
50000. The SHM will complement other MMP tory route of the Franca Southern Right
instruments and will be mounted at the tip of whale. The experiment will be operational
the Danish 26 feet (eight meter) extendable when the spacecraft is over the South
boom. The SHM electronics box will be Atlantic Ocean.
mounted on the spacecraft’s lower (propul-
sion) platform. The MMP will be shipped from • Italian Navigation Experiment (INES) and
Denmark to Argentina as a complete unit its components will be the primary naviga-
including U.S. supplied hardware. tion sensor by the SAC-C attitude and orbit
control subsystem and a secondary atti-
Non-NASA Instruments tude determination sensor.
• Multispectral Medium Resolution Scanner • Data Collection System will enable SAC-C
(MMRS), designed and built by CONAE, to collect environmental data from low cost
will study the condition and dynamics of the ground platforms.
terrestrial and marine biosphere and envi-
ronment. The MMRS will be operational • Digital Transponder for Radio Amateur
over Argentina during SAC-C’s lifetime. Communications will allow radio amateur
communications.
• High Resolution Technological Camera
(HRTC), also built and provided by • High Sensitivity Camera (HCS), a CONAE
CONAE, will improve part of the MMRS supplied instrument, is a highly sensitive
scenes. The HRTC will be operational over intermediate resolution camera. The HCS
Argentina during the lifetime of SAC-C. will be useful in forest fire and electrical
storm detection.
• Influence of Space Radiation on Advanced
Components (ICARE) experiment, supplied Partners
by CNES, will measure high energy radia-
tion environment, trapped particle intensi- • Argentina will supply the MMRS, Whale
ties and energy distribution and correlate Tracker Experiment, HCS, and HRTC.
them with advanced electronic components
• NASA/JPL will contribute the GOLPE and
degradation. ICARE will be able to conduct
SHM.
regular environment characterization cam-
paigns for ten days every six months and • Italy will provide part of the solar panels
exceptional ones during solar events. and two technological experiments for orbit
ICARE will study the effects on compo- and attitude determination, IST and INES.
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• Denmark will contribute the MMP.
Project Management
Dr. Carlos Alonso, Project Manager, CONAE.