STARE A, B, C (Re, Horus)

STARE [LLNL]

STARE (Space-Based Telescopes for Actionable Refinement of Ephemeris) are a series of three-unit CubeSats (called 3U CubeSats) equipped with optical imaging payloads, that will demonstrate the main elements of a new concept for tracking orbiting space debris.

STARE is a project of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories. The STARE satellites are using the Boeing-built Colony II bus developed under a contract with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

LLNL has conducted a spiral development of the STARE technology through 3 pathfinders. Each pathfinder is a 3U CubeSat and each builds upon technology maturation developed on the previous pathfinder.

• The first pathfinder, STARE-A or Re, was launched on the NROL 36 OUTSat (Operationally Unique Technologies Satellite) mission on 13 September 2012 and has experienced communication issues being investigated in the spring/summer of 2013. This first pathfinder has a Cassegrain telescope and an attitude control capability limited to torque coils.
• The second pathfinder, STARE-B or Horus, implementing a full set of reaction wheels for attitude control and a more sensitive imager, is manifested to launch on the ORS-3 mission (with STPSat-3) and launched in November of 2013. The satellite was successfully deployed in orbit, but no signals were received.
• The third pathfinder, STARE-C, implementing improved reaction wheels and a compact and robust optical telescope, was expected to launch at a later date, but was cancelled.