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UNITE (satellite)

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UNITE
Mission typeIonospheric research
OperatorUniversity of Southern Indiana
COSPAR ID1998-067PX Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.44031Edit this on Wikidata
Mission duration2 years, 8 months and 21 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type3U CubeSat
Launch mass4 kg (8.8 lb)
Dimensions10 cm (4 in) x 10 cm (4 in) x 30 cm (12 in)
Start of mission
Launch date5 December 2018 (2018-12-05) UTC
RocketFalcon 9 FT, CRS-16
Launch siteCape Canaveral Air Force Station
ContractorSpaceX
End of mission
Decay date21 October 2021 (2021-10-22)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth

UNITE (Undergraduate Nano Ionospheric Temperature Explorer) was a CubeSat nanosatellite developed by the University of Southern Indiana. The project was funded by NASA's Undergraduate Student Instrument Project and primarily designed and built by students. It was launched into space on 5 December 2018 and deployed into its orbit from the International Space Station on 31 January 2019.[1] Its mission included measuring plasma in the lower ionosphere and monitoring the drag and temperature of the satellite itself.[2][3]

UNITE reentered the atmosphere on 21 October 2021, after 994 days in orbit.[4][5]

References

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  1. ^ Luttrull, Benjamin (13 May 2019). "UNITE CubeSat reaches 100 days in orbit, a milestone for student-build satellites". USI. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  2. ^ Luttrull, Benjamin (5 May 2018). "USI's first spacecraft to be deployed in 2019". USI. Archived from the original on 5 December 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  3. ^ Farless, John (18 November 2016). "USI engineering and physics team to put spacecraft into orbit". USI. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  4. ^ "USI satellite, UNITE CubeSat, nears reentry, mission-critical phase of journey". USI. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  5. ^ "UNITE". N2YO.com. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
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