CRO B [NASA]
Official name STS 39 DEB (CRO-A)
Alternative name CRO-A
Cospar ID 1991-031F
Norad ID 21247
Launch date 1991-04-28
Launch site AFETR
Launch vehicle Shuttle
Country/Organization USA
Type application Chemical release in orbit
Operator SDIO
RCS size UNKNOWN
Decay date 1991-05-13
Shape Cyl + 1 Ant
Mass (kg) 90
Diameter (m) 0.5
Height (m) 1
Span (m^2) 2.5
Contractors DSI
Equipment ?
Propulsion ?
Configuration PicoStar
Power Solar cells, batteries.

CRO (Chemical Release Observation) were small satellites to perform releases of different chemicals for observation by the IBSS-SPAS satellite.

The small satellites were powered by solar cells and deployed a radar reflector on a boom.

CRO A released 27.2 kg monomethyl hydrazine, CRO B released 23.6 kg of UDMH and CRO C released 6.8 kg of nitrogen tetroxide.

Data from these observations assisted SDIO in characterizing the signatures expected from liquid fuel clouds escaping from damaged ICBM boosters.

CRO A, B and C reentered on 13 May, 12 May and 14 May 1991 respectively.

Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
STS 39 DEB (CRO-C) 1991-031D 1991-04-28 AFETR Shuttle with Discovery F12 (STS 39), IBSS-SPAS, CRO A, CRO B, USA 70
STS 39 DEB (CRO-B) 1991-031E 1991-04-28 AFETR Shuttle with Discovery F12 (STS 39), IBSS-SPAS, CRO A, CRO C, USA 70
STS 39 DEB (CRO-A) 1991-031F 1991-04-28 AFETR Shuttle with Discovery F12 (STS 39), IBSS-SPAS, CRO B, CRO C, USA 70