ESTCube-1

Spacecraft nº:

Estonian spacecraft nº: 1

Launch data: Designation  39161 / 13021C Launch date  07 May 2013 - 02:06 UT Launch site  Kourou, ELA-1 Launch vehicle  Vega (VV02) Mission  Technology, Earth Observation Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  663 x 678 km Eccentricity   Inclination  98.1 deg Period  98.0 min

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• ESTCube 1 is a Estonian Student Satellite of the 1U-CubeSat form factor. The Estonian Student Satellite project started in the summer of 2008 at Tartu University with the objectives for promoting space, being an invaluable educational tool for science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) subjects and giving students hands-on experience on developing space technologies. In addition, our further goal is to foster the development of Estonian space and high-tech industry by training experts and disseminating knowledge about space technologies. In addition the satellite project is expected to have a significant role in educating and inspiring the general public and improve their awareness of space research.
• ESTCube 1 weighs 3 pounds, and it's small enough to hold with one hand. But the diminutive will unfurl a 30-foot tether a few days after launch to test a novel method of propulsion.
• The electric solar sail concept would harness the interaction of charged solar wind particles with wires deployed from a satellite. The interplay should generate minuscule levels of thrust.
• The CubeSat will extend only one tether, which is compressed inside the tiny satellite for launch. But on future satellites, the electric solar sail technique could include dozens of wires carrying an electric charge to produce enough thrust to propel larger structures into deep space.
• The concept should provide a gentle but consistent nudge to eventually accelerate a satellite to velocities unattainable with conventional chemical rocket engines.

Satellite tracking: