Tethered Satellite System-2 - A proposed program

Abstract

A second mission (TSS-2) has been proposed for the reusable Tethered Satellite System (TSS) being developed jointly by the U.S. and Italy. The TSS-2 flight demonstration would use the TSS deployer/retriever system to deploy a research spacecraft attached to the end of a 100-km-long tether. The deployment would take place downward from the Space Shuttle into the outer atmosphere to an altitude of approximately 130 km. The objectives of the mission would be to demonstrate the atmospheric deployment of a tethered system, conduct scientific and aerothermodynamic research measurements, and conduct engineering measurements to verify flight system performance. Analytical studies have shown the feasibility of the TSS-2 mission from both the technology and operational dynamics standpoint. The TSS-1 mission (a 20 km tether deployed upward to conduct electrodynamic experiments) will validate the TSS itself as well as deployment and retrieval operations.