| astronautix.com | MAQSAT |
MAQSATs were mass model and technology satellites built by Kayser-Threde, Munich, and lofted during the test flights of the Ariane 5. MAQSAT-H was a dummy communications satellite instrumented to report the actual payload bay environment during launch. It also included the TEAMSAT technology experiment payload, developed by ESTEC. TEAMSAT ejected a subsatellite, the Young Engineers Satellite, also with several experiments. MAQSAT-B was a smaller dummy satellite in the lower bay of the SPELTRA dual launch adapter. On a later launch Maqsat-3 was a similar dynamic model of Eutelsat W2, instrumented and within the SPELTRA adapter.
Dummy communications satellite instrumented to report the actual payload bay environment during launch. It included the TEAMSAT technology experiment payload, developed by ESTEC
Maqsat 3 was an instrumentation package used to monitor performance of the Ariane 5 booster. At T+12:43 the Speltra adapter cover separated revealing Maqsat-3. At T+15:14 the EPS stage Aestus engine ignited and burned until T+31:00. At this point on a normal mission the satellite would separate from the EPS, but to avoid creating space debris Maqsat remained attached to the EPS. The EPS/Maqsat-3 was placed in a 1027 km x 35863 km x 7.0 degree geostationary transfer orbit.