PharmaSat
PharmaSat undergoing preflight testing | |
| Mission type | Biological research |
|---|---|
| Operator | NASA |
| COSPAR ID | 2009-028B |
| SATCAT no. | 35002 |
| Website | PharmaSat |
| Mission duration | 6 months (planned) 3 years, 2 months, 25 days (final) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | 3U CubeSat |
| Manufacturer | NASA Ames Space Center |
| Launch mass | 4.5 kg (9.9 lb) |
| Power | Solar cells and batteries |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 19 May 2009, 23:55 UTC |
| Rocket | Minotaur I |
| Launch site | MARS, Pad 0B |
| Contractor | Orbital Sciences |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 14 August 2012 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
| Perigee altitude | 428 km (266 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 466 km (290 mi) |
| Inclination | 40.4° |
| Period | 93.52 minutes |
PharmaSat was a nanosatellite developed by NASA Ames Research Center which measured the influence of microgravity upon yeast resistance to an antifungal agent. As a follow on to the GeneSat-1 mission, the Ames Small Spacecraft Division conducted the PharmaSat mission in collaboration with industry and local universities.
PharmaSat was the first nanosatellite to implement biological science guided by its Principal Investigator. The mission was designed to aid the development of medicines or techniques to enable long-term crewed space travel and habitation.