TSX-5

The Tri-Service Experiment-5 (TSX-5) was the sixth in a series of small satellites built by Orbital and a predecessor company for space research and experiments commissioned by the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center as part of its Space Test Program (STEP).

The TSX-5 research satellite hosted two experiment suites: the Space Test Research Vehicle-2 (STRV-2), and the Compact Environmental Anomaly Sensor (CEASE).  STRV-2 was a single unit comprised of seven subexperiments to test a variety of technologies including laser communications, infrared imaging and radiation monitoring technology testbeds among others.  CEASE was an autonomous, lightweight, low-power instrument for monitoring the environment around a spacecraft.

TSX-5 was launched on June 7, 2000, from Vandenberg Air Force Base on a Pegasus XL rocket

Customer:
U.S Air Force and Missile Defense Center

Mission:
Military Technology Demostration