TechSat-21

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Name = TechSat-21


Caption = TechSat-21 artist's rendition
Organization = AFRL, STP, NASA
Major_Contractors = MicroSat Systems
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Mission_Type = Technology demonstrator
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Satellite_Of = Earth
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Mass = 181 kg
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Orbit_regime = Low Earth orbit
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Inclination = 35.4°
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Apoapsis = 560 km
Periapsis = 560 km
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TechSat-21 (Technology Satellite of the 21st Century) was a small spacecraft developed by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicles Directorate to test technology for formation flight of spacecraft which can rapidly change formation based on mission requirements. [cite web | url=http://www.spacedaily.com/news/radar-02b.html | title=MicroSat Systems Contract Raytheon For SAR Payload | date=2002-04-16 | accessdate=2008-07-28 | publisher=Space Daily | author=Staff Writers] The project was canceled in 2003 due to numerous cost overruns. [cite web | url=http://www.space.com/spacenews/archive06/formation_1204.html | title=DARPA To Solicit Bids for Formation Flying Studies | last=Singer | first=Jeremy | date=2006-12-07 | accessdate=2008-07-28 | publisher=Space News]

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