SpaceDev has launched operations of its Satellite Assembly and Test (SAT) facility, which provides a "full end-to-end flight system development capability", according to the San Diego, California-based space company.
The centre can house eight small spacecraft or 16 SpaceDev transfer vehicles. The first SpaceDev mission to use SAT will be the CHIPSat satellite, which the company is building for the Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California. The $17 million NASA-funded university-class Explorer programme CHIPSat will be launched piggyback on a Delta booster in March 2002.
Meanwhile, SpaceDev has redesigned the asteroid explorer that has been proposed for a $100 million commercial mission.
Source: Flight International