SkyCube
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2014) |
 SkyCube in undeployed state | |
| Mission type | Earth imaging |
|---|---|
| Operator | Southern Stars |
| COSPAR ID | 1998-067EN |
| SATCAT no. | 39569 |
| Mission duration | 90 days planned |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | 1U CubeSat |
| Launch mass | 1.3 kilograms (2.9 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 9 January 2014, 18:07:05 UTC |
| Rocket | Antares 120 |
| Launch site | MARS LP-0A |
| Contractor | Orbital Sciences |
| Deployed from | International Space Station |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | 27 March 2014 |
| Decay date | 8 November 2014 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 414 km (257 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 419 km (260 mi) |
| Inclination | 51.6 degrees |
| Epoch | |
SkyCube was an American crowdsourced CubeSat. It was first announced on Kickstarter on 14 July 2012 and successfully funded on 12 September 2012, meeting its US$82,500 goal with a total of $116,890. It was developed and built in 2012–2013, completed flight integration at NanoRacks in late 2013,[1] and finally launched aboard the Cygnus CRS Orb-1 flight[2] at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia. SkyCube was deployed from the International Space Station on February 28, 2014. Contact with the satellite was last made on March 27, 2014. SkyCube re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on November 9, 2014.[3]
Mission
SkyCube has three major mission components: the broadcast of messages from its radio, the capture of pictures from space via its three cameras, and the deployment of a large balloon.
Messages
The SkyCube radio emits periodic beaconing pings which contain 120-byte messages from the Kickstarter backers. These pings are transmitted at 915 MHz, using the AX.25 protocol at 9600 baud with BPSK modulation, with a callsign of WG9XMF.[4]
Imaging
Using its three cameras, SkyCube will take pictures of the Earth from orbit. The cameras are VGA resolution and have lenses with three different fields of view (120°, 35°, and 6°), giving a variety of imaging possibilities. The images will be transmitted back to Earth at 57.6 kbit/s. Kickstarter backers will choose when the pictures are taken. NOAA granted a 90-day imaging license to SkyCube on 1 February 2013.[5]
Balloon
SkyCube will deploy a large (2 metres (6.6 ft)) balloon at the end of its mission. The balloon is coated with reflective titanium dioxide and will make it visible from the ground. The balloon will also increase the atmospheric drag on SkyCube, and within two weeks the orbit will decay enough that SkyCube will enter Earth's atmosphere and burn up safely. The inflation is triggered via 4-gram CO2 canister.
Technical specifications
| Dimensions | 100 × 100 × 113 mm CubeSat standard |
| Interface specification | ISIPOD 1.4I |
| Mass | 1.3 kilograms (2.9 lb) |
| Expected lifetime | 60 – 90 days |
| Attitude control system | Passive magnotorquers |
| Power | 9 total panels: one roof panel and 8 deployable panels. Each panel consists of 24 Spectrolab triangular cells wired in series-parallel for a nominal 12 volts. |
| Batteries | 2x Li-ion 18650 cells, 8.4V 2300 mAh, Molicell ICR18650J. |
| Power bus | 3.3V, 5V regulated. Constant-current driver for solar panel deployment (Nichrome burn wires). |
| Primary downlink | 915 MHz, AX.25 protocol, BPSK modulation, 57.6 kbit/s |
| Telemetry/messaging downlink | 915 MHz, AX.25 protocol, BPSK modulation, 9.6 kbit/s |
| Command uplink | 450 MHz, AX.25 protocol, FSK modulation, 9.6 kbit/s |
Partnerships
SkyCube relies on several partners to provide necessary services:
| Organization | Function |
|---|---|
| Naval Postgraduate School | Ground station services in North America and Hawaii[6] |
| Saber Astronautics | Ground station and Mission Control services in Australia[7] |
| Orbital Sciences | Launch provider |
| NanoRacks | Integrator[1] |
| Astronautical Development, LLC | Radios and structural components |
In the media
- SkyCube was featured on the 9 May 2013 broadcast of ABC7 KGO-TV news[8]
- SkyCube: a social space mission
- SkyCube is a small crowdfunded satellite
See also
References
- ^ a b "NanoRacks Completes Flight Integration of CubeSats Bound on Orb1 to the ISS".
- ^ "New Science Bound for Station on Orbital's Cygnus".
- ^ "SkyCube Satellite Technology".
- ^ "FCC Experimental License for SkyCube".
- ^ "SkyCube Private Remote Sensing License: Public Summary" (PDF).
- ^ "Mobile CubeSat Command & Control (MC3) Ground Stations" (PDF).
- ^ "29 October 2013: Space Operations Deal Signed with Southern Stars".
- ^ "SJ startup to launch crowdfunded satellite into space".