Astro 200

Comtech AeroAstro’s Astro 200 bus accommodates a variety of mission configurations in the <200 kg total mass range. This versatile spacecraft fits within the launch envelope of a variety of launch vehicles including Minotaurs I & IV, Pegasus, Falcon 1, Atlas V and Delta IV ESPA. Astro 200 features a standard interface for multiple payloads. Without modification, it accommodates a variety of payloads up to 85 kg in mass and 100W in power.

The vehicle is designed to operate in a variety of LEO orbits with a full range of altitudes and inclinations. Increased capability in propulsion, communication, attitude control, and stability are available as options.

The Astro 200 was initially developed for the DoD Space Test Program (STP) to maximize the utility of the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) secondary launch capability, but is compatible with a wide variety of launchers. Comtech AeroAstro has developed two spacecraft based on the Astro 200 core design. STPSat-1 was successfully launched in March of 2007 on the first ESPA, and STPSat-2 was delivered in December of 2008 and launched on Minotaur IV in 2010.