OTB-1 (CELESTIS 16)

Launch data:

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) OTB (Orbital Test Bed) satellite will provide the opportunity for Surrey′s Hosted Payload customers to benefit from reliable, low-risk access to orbit, to rapidly and cost-effectively space-qualify new technology, gain flight heritage, acquire mission experience, generate in-orbit data and provide mission continuity capability, without the need to procure a costly dedicated launch.
• OTB 1 is based on the SSTL-150 bus.
• One of the hosted payloads is NASA′s DSAC (Deep Space Atomic Clock), a technology demonstration mission with the goal to validate a miniaturized, ultra-precise mercury-ion atomic clock that is 100 times more stable than today′s best navigation clocks.
• Also on board is a small capsule with cremated human remains for Celestis, called "Heriatge Flight".
• A second mission called OTB 2 is planned for a later date.

Mission details:

• CELESTIS 16 represents the 16th memorial spaceflight provided by Celestis. Launched aboard the General Atomics Orbital Test Bed (OTB-1) the Celestis satellite carries individual flight capsules containing a symbolic portion of cremated remains or DNA from 152 participants.

External links:

• Satellite tracking (n2ya.com): Real time satellite tracking