SwissCube-1
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| Operator | EPFL |
|---|---|
| Bus | 1U CubeSat |
| Mission type | Atmospheric Technology |
| Launch date | 23 September 2009 06:21 UTC |
| Carrier rocket | PSLV-CA C14 |
| Launch site | Satish Dhawan FLP |
| Mission duration | 3-12 months (planned) 24+ months (achieved)[1] |
| COSPAR ID | 2009-051B |
| Homepage | EPFL - SwissCube |
| Mass | 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) |
| Orbital elements | |
| Regime | Sun-synchronous |
| Inclination | 98.28° |
| Apoapsis | 752 kilometres (467 mi) |
| Periapsis | 726 kilometres (451 mi) |
| Orbital period | 98.5 minutes |
SwissCube-1 is a Swiss satellite operated by Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. The spacecraft is a single unit CubeSat, which was designed to conduct research into nightglow within the Earth's atmosphere, and to develop technology for future spacecraft.[2] It has also been used for amateur radio. It was the first Swiss satellite to be launched.[3]
SwissCube-1 was launched by a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, serial number C14, flying in the Core Alone, or PSLV-CA, configuration.[4] The launch took place from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, at 06:21 UTC on 23 September 2009.[5] SwissCube-1 was a secondary payload aboard the rocket, which deployed the Oceansat-2 satellite. Five other secondary payloads were flown aboard the rocket; BeeSat, UWE-2, ITU-pSat1, Rubin 9.1 and Rubin 9.2.[6][7]
It took the first picture on 18 February 2011 and the first airglow picture on 3 March 2011.EPFL 24 march news
SwissCube-1 is operating in a sun synchronous orbit[8] with an apogee of 752 kilometres (467 mi), a perigee of 726 kilometres (451 mi) and 98.28 degrees of inclination to the equator. It has an orbital period of 98.5 minutes. As of October 2011[update], it is still operational.[9] Its mission was expected to last between three and twelve months.[6]
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ http://swisscube-live.ch/
- ^ "Project Objectives". SwissCube. EPFL. May 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ "Switzerland Launches First Satellite". EATOPS. 5 October 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "PSLV CA". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ a b Krebs, Gunter. "SwissCube". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Rubin 9". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ "SwissCube". AMSAT. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ "Centres de contrôles déportés, un exemple de travail collaboratif pour la mission SwissCube". EATOPS. 14 February 2010.
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