SHERPA in Orbit – Credit Spaceflight Inc

ISIS‬ have been selected by SpaceFlight Inc. to provide QuadPack nanosatellite dispensers for the 2015 SHERPA launch. They will provide the capacity to deploy 84 3U CubeSats. Future SHERPA launches aim to go to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO).

ISIS QuadPack Deployer – Credit ISIS

Following next year’s launch, Spaceflight are planning two launches each year, one to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), and the other to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). A GTO is a highly elliptical orbit which may have an apogee of 35,786 km and a perigee around 300 km.

Seattle Astronomy report SHERPA is capable of carrying up to 1,500 kilograms total although the first mission, set for the third quarter of 2015, will only be 1,200 kilograms.

The first SHERPA will not have its own propulsion system, but future models should, enabling even greater maneuverability and precision in delivering satellites to their intended destinations.

Read the ISIS press release at
http://www.isispace.nl/cms/index.php/news/press-releases/138-isis-selected-by-spaceflight-inc-to-provide-quadpack-nanosatellite-dispensers-for-2015-sherpa-launch

Seattle Astronomy – First SHERPA launch from Spaceflight, Inc. set for next year
http://www.seattleastronomy.com/blog1/2014/05/first-sherpa-launch-from-spaceflight-inc-set-for-next-year/

The AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium is being held at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, GU2 7XZ on July 26-27, 2014. The event is open to all, further details at https://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/colloquium-2014/