ESTCube-1
ESTCube-1 illustration
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| Mission type | Technology |
|---|---|
| Operator | University of Tartu |
| COSPAR ID | 2013-021C |
| SATCAT № | 39161 |
| Website | http://www.estcube.eu/en/home |
| Mission duration | 12 months |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Launch mass | 1.048 kilograms (2.31 lb) |
| Dry mass | 1.048 kilograms (2.31 lb) |
| Power | 3.6W |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 7 May 2013, 02:06:31 UTC |
| Rocket | Vega |
| Launch site | Kourou ELA-1 |
| Contractor | ESA |
| End of mission | |
| Deactivated | 17 Feb 2015, 10:27:00 UTC |
| Last contact | 19 May 2015 |
| Decay date | 2038*estimated |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee | 665 km |
| Apogee | 665 km |
| Inclination | 98.129 degrees |
| Period | 98.03 minutes |
ESTCube-1 is the first Estonian satellite and first satellite in the world to attempt to use an electric solar wind sail (E-sail). Developed as part of the Estonian Student Satellite Program, it was launched on 7 May 2013 aboard a Vega carrier rocket and successfully deployed into orbit. Student Satellite is an educational project in which university and high school students can participate. The CubeSat standard for nanosatellites was followed during the engineering of ESTCube-1, resulting in a 10x10x11.35 cm cube, with a volume of 1 liter and a mass of 1.048 kg.
Mission ended in 17 February 2015 and it was said that during this time it resulted 29 bachelor's and 19 master's dissertations, 5 doctoral theses and 4 start-ups.
While emphasis was placed on educating students during creation of ESTCube-1, it does have a scientific purpose. On board the satellite is an electric solar wind sail (E-sail) which was invented by Finnish scientist Pekka Janhunen. During the ESTCube-1 flight, 10 meters of 20–50 micrometer thick E-sail wire, sometimes referred to as "Heytether," were deployed from the satellite. The deployment of the Heytether is detected by a decrease of the satellite's rotation speed or an onboard camera.
To control the E-sail element's interaction with both the plasma surrounding the Earth and the effect it has on the spacecraft's spinning speed, two nanotechnology electron emitters/guns are on board. The electron emitters are connected to the E-sail element which it loads positively to 500 volts by shooting out electrons. The positive ions in the plasma were intended to push the E-sail element and influence the satellite's rotation speed. The effect of the plasma on the E-sail was to be measured by the change in said rotation speed. The tether was also intended to de-orbit the satellite y use as a plasma-brake to demonstrate a possibility for returning small satellites from orbit. A color CMOS camera is also on board that is capable of making RAW-format pictures with VGA-resolution. This camera is used to acquire images of Earth and to monitor deployment of the Heytether.
To complete the scientific experiment and communicate with the satellite on several occasions the orbit chosen was a sun–synchronous circular orbit at an altitude of 670 kilometers. ESTCube-1 was launched into orbit by Arianespace, using a Vega rocket which lifted off from ELA-1 at Kourou at 02:06:31 UTC on 7 May 2013. The satellite was placed into orbit and communication successfully established, with the first photo of the Earth taken on May 15 and transmitted to the ground on the amateur radio band.
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