Satellite SAC - B
SAC-B, the first satellite completely designed and constructed in Argentina, gave birth to a new branch of engineering in the country. It was conceived for the advancement of studies in solar physics and astrophysics through the examination of solar flares, gamma ray bursts, diffuse X-ray cosmic background, and energetic neutral atoms.
It was launched in November 1996, but a power failure in the Pegasus-XL launcher unfortunately rendered SAC-B useless after a few orbits; however, all systems worked as predicted until on-board batteries discharged.
Space agencies taking part in this mission, Argentina's CONAE and USA NASA, pointed out that this first SAC mission was a great step forward for INVAP's technology, since it was possible to prove that the argentine satellite platform was free from design errors or construction defects.
