View source for USA-221

{{Infobox spaceflight
| name                  = USA-221
| image                 =
| image_caption         =
| mission_type          = Technology
| operator              = [[United States Air Force Academy|USAFA]]
| website               =
| COSPAR_ID             = 2010-062E
| SATCAT                =
| mission_duration      =
| spacecraft_bus        =
| manufacturer          =
| dry_mass              =
| launch_mass           = {{convert|180|kg}}
| power                 =
| launch_date           = {{start-date|20 November 2010, 01:25:00|timezone=yes}}&nbsp;UTC<ref name="LL">{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt|title=Launch Log|first=Jonathan|last=McDowell|work=Jonathan's Space Page|access-date=1 December 2011}}</ref>
| launch_rocket         = [[Minotaur IV]]/[[Hydrazine Auxiliary Propulsion System|HAPS]] F3
| launch_site           = [[Kodiak Launch Complex|Kodiak]] [[Kodiak Launch Complex Launch Pad 1|LP-1]]
| launch_contractor     =
| disposal_type         =
| deactivated           =
| last_contact          = <!-- {{end-date|[insert date here]}} -->
| decay_date            =
| orbit_epoch           = 20 November 2010<ref name="satcat">{{cite web |url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/satcat.txt |title=Satellite Catalog |publisher=Jonathan's Space Page |first=Jonathan |last=McDowell |access-date=3 May 2018}}</ref>
| orbit_reference       = [[geocentric orbit|Geocentric]]
| orbit_regime          = [[Low Earth orbit|Low Earth]]
| orbit_periapsis       = {{convert|633|km}}<ref name="satcat"/>
| orbit_apoapsis        = {{convert|654|km}}<ref name="satcat"/>
| orbit_inclination     = 71.90&nbsp;degrees<ref name="satcat"/>
| orbit_period          = 97.60&nbsp;minutes<ref name="satcat"/>
| apsis                 = gee
}}
'''USA-221''', also known as '''FalconSat-5''', is an American military [[minisatellite]], which was launched in 2010. The fifth [[FalconSat]] spacecraft to be launched, it carries four technology development and [[ionosphere|ionospheric]] research experiments. The satellite was constructed and is operated by the [[United States Air Force Academy]].
==Spacecraft==
USA-221 is a {{convert|180|kg|adj=on}} spacecraft, measuring {{convert|70|cm}} by {{convert|64|cm}} by {{convert|54|cm}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://events.eoportal.org/get_announce.php?an_id=10002567|title=FalconSat-5|publisher=eoPortal Directory|first=Herbert J.|last=Kramer|access-date=1 December 2011}}</ref> It operates in a [[low Earth orbit]] with an [[apsis|apogee]] of {{convert|654|km}}, a [[apsis|perigee]] of {{convert|633|km}}, and 72 degrees of [[orbital inclination]].<ref name="satcat"/>
The [[Space Plasma Characterization Source]] (SPCS) studies how a cold gas ammonia thruster and a [[Hall effect thruster]] behave in space, and how they affect the spacecraft's surroundings. Meanwhile, the [[Wafer-Integrated Spectrometer]], WISPERS, will observe the plume generated by the Hall thruster, allowing a comparison to be made to theoretical data. The other two experiments will study the Earth's ionosphere. [[SmartMESA]], the Smart Miniaturized Electrostatic Analyzer, was designed to record the ion density of the ionosphere, as well as the temperature, to allow a study of how temperature affects ion density. It is a reflight of the original SmartMESA mission, which was lost when [[FalconSat-2]] failed to achieve orbit. The [[Receiver UHF/VHF Signal Strength]], or RUSS, experiment, is intended to receive radio signals in the [[UHF]] and [[VHF]] bands, to determine the levels and effects of ionospheric interference.<ref name="GSP">{{cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/falconsat-5.htm|title=FalconSat 5|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|work=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=1 December 2011}}</ref>
SmartMESA, also known as the Integrated Miniaturized ElectroStatic Analyzer, and WISPERS were respectively ranked as the 26th and 31st most important experiments for DoD satellites in 2006, by the US [[Space Experiments Review Board]].
==Launch==
USA-221 was launched from [[Kodiak Launch Complex Launch Pad 1|Pad 1]] of the [[Kodiak Launch Complex]], using a [[Minotaur IV]] carrier rocket with a [[Hydrazine Auxiliary Propulsion System|HAPS]] upper stage; however USA-221 was deployed prior to ignition of the HAPS stage. The Minotaur was launched at 01:25:00 UTC on 20 November 2010,<ref name="LL"/> with FalconSat-5 separating into its low Earth orbit just over 25 minutes later.
The launch also carried [[STPSat-2]], [[FASTSAT]] and [[NanoSail-D2]], [[FASTRAC]], [[O/OREOS]], and [[RAX]].<ref name="LL"/> Collectively, the deployment mission was designated STP-S26, and marked the third flight of the Minotaur IV.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
* [http://www.busek.com Busek (Natick, MA USA)- Propulsion System Vendor]
{{Orbital launches in 2010}}
[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 2010]]
[[Category:USA satellites]]