GHOSt 1 [Astro Digital]
Official name GHOST-3
Alternative name GHOST-3
Cospar ID 2023-084AC
Norad ID 56958
Launch date 2023-06-12
Launch site AFWTR
Launch vehicle Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5)
Country/Organization USA
Type application Technology
Operator Orbital Sidekick
RCS size MEDIUM
Decay date ON ORBIT
Period (min) 93.89
Inclination (deg) 97.57
Perigee (km) 459
Apogee (km) 470
Eccentricity 0.0118406889128095
Mean motion (revs. per day) 15.3370966024071
Semi-Major axis (km) 6842.635
Raan (deg) 274.5319
Arg of perigee (deg) 239.1387
Shape Box + 1 Dish
Mass (kg) 85
Height (m) 0.6
Width (m) 0.5
Depth (m) 0.5
Span (m^2) 2
Lifetime 3-5 years
Contractors Astro Digital
Equipment Hyperspectral imager
Propulsion None
Configuration Corvus-XL
Power Solar cells, batteries

GHOSt (Global Hyperspectral Observation Satellite) is a planned earth observation constellation by Orbital Sidekick (OSK).

The hyperspectral imaging (HSI) constellation consists of six 85 kg ESPA class satellites designed and manufactured by Astro Digital, with Maverick Space Systems providing mission integration and management services for the launches on SpaceX?s Falcon 9. The custom hyperspectral imaging payload is provided by OSK and is based on the prototype flown on the Aurora satellite.

GHOSt leverages OSK?s previous experience collecting and analyzing hyperspectral data with its HEIST mission on the International Space Station in 2019. The custom payload will produce the highest resolution commercial hyperspectral imagery launched to-date with a GSD of approximately 8 meters. The payload will be integrated into Astro Digital?s Corvus-XL satellite platform and will use its Ka-band data downlink capability.

GHOSt will capture more than 400 spectral bands in the visible to shortwave infrared range of 400 ? 2500 nm to feed OSK?s Spectral Intelligence Global Monitoring Application (SIGMATM) platform.

The first two GHOSt satellites are equipped with sensors that are nearly identical to Aurora?s but are paired with much larger telescopes. The next four GHOSt satellites will feature a slightly more advanced focal plane array to achieve better performance.

Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
GHOST-3 2023-084AC 2023-06-12 AFWTR Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) with W-Series 1, Skykraft Deployer 3, Skykraft 3A, ..., 3D, ICEYE X23, X25, X26, X30, GHOSt 3, Grégoire, Runner 1, Tomorrow R2, QPS-SAR 6, ÑuSat 40, ..., 43, Aces 1, ..., 4, HOTSAT 1, AFR, DROID.001, MuSat 1, ION-SCV 011, Outpost Mission 1, EPICHyper 2, Kelpie 2, Spei Satelles, ELO 4, MRC-100, Unicorn 2I, SATLLA 2I, URESAT 1, Istanbul, ROM 2, Orbiter SN3, Otter Pup, MDQSAT 1C, 1D, Pleiades-Squared, GEI-SAT Precursor, XVI, AII-Delta, Ayris 1, 2, EIVE, FOREST 2, Lemur-2 167, 168, MISR-A 1, MISR-B 2, Tiger 4, FOSSASat FEROX 1, ..., 4, SpaceBEE 168, ..., 179