Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm (MBB)
Developed a platform called the Space Pallet Satellite, or SPAS. It is a truss of graphite-epoxy tubes and fits snugly into the bay of the space shuttle.
Created: 2023-08-19
Updated: 2024-03-02
Company - Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm (MBB)
Product/Service - SPAS (Space Pallet Satellite), Saenger, Sänger
- Classification
- Miscellaneous
- Category
- Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Reusable Satellite
Point-to-point
Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Robotic Space Station
- Fields
- Spaceplane
Automated Microgravity Laboratory
- Status
- Cancelled, Acquired
- First launch
- 1983
Space Pallet Satellite (SPAS)
Developed a platform called the Space Pallet Satellite, or SPAS. It is a truss of graphite-epoxy tubes and fits snugly into the bay of the space shuttle. On the seventh shuttle flight, it was released from the shuttle, was operated for ten hours, and was then retrieved. It flew again on the tenth shuttle flight, remaining in the cargo bay and carrying equipment for several commercial users into orbit. It has only battery power and uses compressed cans of gas to push it around, so it is suitable only for short-duration missions. But it's cheap; the basic platform costs less than $4 million.
Saenger (Sänger)
West German concept design for a two-stage-to-orbit spaceplane.
Spacelab
European Retrievable Carrier
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