Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 30, 2026

XSS-10

XSS-10 was a small, low-cost micro-spacecraft developed by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate to test technology for line-of-sight guidance of spacecraft. The project was initiated at AFRL by Program Manager David Barnhart and completed by Georgia Tech Research Institute engineer Thom Davis and team. The project was declared a success shortly after launch.

Last revised
Jul 30, 2026
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XSS-10
XSS-10 computer model
Mission typeTechnology
OperatorAFRL
COSPAR ID2003-005B
SATCAT no.27664Edit this on Wikidata
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerBoeing
Launch mass28 kilograms (62 lb)
Start of mission
Launch dateJanuary 29, 2003, 18:06:00 (2003-01-29UTC18:06Z) UTC
RocketDelta II 7925-9.5 (Delta 295)
Launch siteCape Canaveral SLC-17B
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Eccentricity0.020384971
Perigee altitude518.0 kilometers (321.9 mi)
Apogee altitude805.0 kilometers (500.2 mi)
Inclination39.75 degrees
Period98.0 minutes
Epoch29 January 2003, 13:06:00 UTC1

XSS-10 (eXperimental Small Satellite 10) was a small, low-cost micro-spacecraft developed by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate to test technology for line-of-sight guidance of spacecraft.2 The project was initiated at AFRL by Program Manager David Barnhart3 and completed by Georgia Tech Research Institute engineer Thom Davis and team.4 The project was declared a success shortly after launch.5

Spent upper stage of the Delta II launch vehicle imaged by the XSS-10 satellite source ↗
References

References

  1. "NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Trajectory Details". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on 2020-10-16. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  2. Banke, Jim (2003-01-30). "Air Force XSS-10 Micro-Satellite Mission a Success". Space.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
  3. Barnhart, David A.; Hunter, Roger C.; Weston, Alan R.; Chioma, Vincent J.; Steiner, Mark; Larsen, William (October 1998). XSS-10 micro-satellite demonstration. AIAA Defense and Civil Space Programs Conference and Exhibit. Huntsville, AL: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi:10.2514/6.1998-5298. AIAA 1998-5298.
  4. "Big plans for small satellites". Historical archive. Georgia Tech Research Institute. Retrieved 2012-10-26.
  5. Sanders, Jane M (2003-08-11). "The Little Engine That Could". Research Horizons. Georgia Institute of Technology. Archived from the original on 2010-07-27. Retrieved 2012-10-26.
External links