| STRV | |
| Mission Type: | experimental |
| Operator: | UK Ministry of Defence |
| Cospar Id: | 1A: 1994-034B 1B: 1994-034C 1C: 2000-072C 1D: 2000-072D |
| Satcat: | 1A: 23125[1] 1B: 23126 1C: 26610[2] 1D: 26611 |
| Manufacturer: | DRA |
| Launch Mass: | 1A & 1B: 50kg (110lb) each 1C & 1D: 100kg (200lb) each |
| Launch Date: | 1A & 1B: 1C & 1D: |
| Launch Rocket: | 1A & 1B: Ariane 44LP 1C & 1D:Ariane 5 |
| Launch Site: | Guiana Space Center |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric |
| Orbit Periapsis: | 1A & 1B: 284km (176miles) 1C & 1D: 615km (382miles) |
| Orbit Apoapsis: | 1A & 1B: 35831km (22,264miles) 1C & 1D: 39269km (24,401miles) |
| Orbit Inclination: | 1A & 1B: 7.1° 1C & 1D:6.4° |
| Orbit Period: | 1A & 1B: 633 min 1C & 1D: 708 min |
| Apsis: | gee |
Space Technology Research Vehicle, or STRV, was a series of British microsatellites which operated in elliptical orbits around the Earth. The satellites were built by the Defence Research Agency at Farnborough, for the UK Ministry of Defence.[3]
The series of four satellites, launched as two pairs, were designed to test new technologies in the harsh radiation environment of a geostationary transfer orbit. Each satellite had an expected 1 year life-time and carries myriad detectors, sensors and other equipment for a variety of organisations including the UK MoD, ESA and the US Department of Defense. The satellites were controlled from the DRA groundstation at Lasham in the UK.[3] Several of the STRV satellites' experiments also recorded proton and electron data as they repeatedly passed through the Van Allen Belts.[4]
Two satellites were launched in June 1994 and another two were launched in November 2000, from the space center in French Guiana.[5]
STRV 1A and STRV 1B are cube-shaped micro-satellites each with a mass of 50 kg. They were launched into orbit to test new solar cells and measure static charge on its surfaces.[6]
STRV 1C and STRV 1D are cube-shaped micro-satellite each with a mass of 100 kg and carry test technology devices including lithium ion batteries and a GPS receiver.[6]