FAST Facts |
| Launch Date | August 21, 1996 |
| Launch Vehicle | Pegasus-XL |
| Orbit |
| Inclination | 83 degrees |
| Apogee Altitude | 4175 km |
| Perigee Altitude | 350 km |
| Orbital Period | 133 min |
| Size |
| Diameter | 1.02 m |
| Height | 0.93 m |
| Satellite Mass |
| Total | 191 kg |
| Instruments (with IDPU) | 65 kg |
| Telemetry |
| High (science) | 2.25/1.5/0.9 Mbps |
| Low (s/c "health" only) | 4 kbps |
| Commands (uplink) | 2 kbps |
| On-board Data Storage |
| Solid State Memory | 125 Mbyte (1 Gbit) |
| Power |
| Solar Cells on S/C Body | 2.6 m2, single junction GaAs |
| Peak spacecraft power (all systems in use) | 117 W |
| Spacecraft power (orbit averaged) | 52 W |
| Instrument power, including IDPU (peak) | 39 W |
| Instrument power, including IDPU (orbit averaged) | 19 W |
| Transmitter power when in use | 28 W |
| Battery | 9 A-hr "Super" Nickel Cadmium |
| Solar Cell Surface | Conducting; Indium Tin Oxide on cover glass |
| Attitude |
| Spin Rate | 12 rpm |
| Spin Plane Orientation | Within 10 degrees of magnetic field direction in auroral zones (somewhat worse in Southern Hemisphere) |
| Actuators | Magnetic torquers (2) |
| Attitude Knowledge | 0.1 degrees (typical processed accuracy |
| Attitude Sensors | Sun sensor, horizon crossing indicators, 3-axis magnetometer |
| Nominal Mission Lifetime | 1 year |
