Losat-X [Ball]
Official name LOSAT X
Alternative name Losat-X
Cospar ID 1991-047B
Norad ID 21553
Launch date 1991-07-04
Launch site AFETR
Launch vehicle Delta-7925
Country/Organization USA
Type application SDI Experiments
Operator SDIO
RCS size MEDIUM
Decay date 1991-11-15
Shape Box
Mass (kg) 74.33
Height (m) 1.2
Width (m) 0.2
Depth (m) 1.2
Span (m^2) 1.2
Lifetime 3 month planned, failed after nine days
Contractors Ball Aerospace
Equipment SDI multispectral-sensor payload; wide field-of-view star camera
Propulsion ?
Configuration Quickstar Bus
Power Solar cells, batteries

Losat-X (Low Altitude Satellite Experiment), built for SDIO, was to gather multi-spectral data on ground-launched rocket plumes and the space environment. It also was used for development and testing of other technologies (wide field-of-view star camera).

Originally planned to be launched with LACE and RME, Losat-X was delayed and finally launched with GPS-2A 2. The spacecraft was sidemounted on the second stage of the Delta-7925 launch vehicle and was spring-ejected after the deployment of the third stage.

Planned for a three-month lifetime, the main objectives were accomplished during the first day in orbit, but Losat-X was lost due to a failure in the command receiver after nine days.

Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
LOSAT X 1991-047B 1991-07-04 AFETR Delta-7925 with GPS-2A 2