ASHBURN, Va., 10 May 2006. AeroAstro Inc., a provider of small satellites and related technology , has completed bus integration on the STPSat-1 satellite, a low-earth-orbiting satellite to be launched this year.
The space vehicle, being developed under contract with the DoD Space Test Program (STP) at Kirtland AFB, will be the first DoD STP mission designed to fly space experiments on the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA).
AeroAstro completed the electrical and mechanical integration of all spacecraft components and payload elements.
Bus functional testing is in progress at AeroAstro's Virginia headquarters, and will be followed by environmental tests at the Naval Research Laboratory.
STPSat-1 is scheduled for launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on an Atlas 5 in late 2006.
This project is sponsored by the United States Air Force.
