AeroCube-8a (IMPACT A)

Spacecraft nº:

US spacecraft nº:

Launch data: Designation  40659 / 15025J Launch date  20 May 2015 - 15:05 UT Launch site  CC, SLC-40 Launch vehicle  Atlas V-501 Mission  Technology Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  350? x 700? km Eccentricity   Inclination  55? ° Period   min

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• Aerocube 8 (AC8) or IMPACT, is a two satellite cubesat mission by the Aerospace Corporation of El Segundo to demonstrate a new electric propulsion, nanotechnologies (CNT) and solar cell technologies.

Mission details:

• On May 20, 2015 an Atlas V orbited an X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle into an unknown orbit.
• After releasing the X-37B, the Centaur AV-054 rocket stage reignited to reach a 355 x 700 km x 55-57 deg orbit and at around 17:00 UTC released a set of 9 cubesats. Centaur then made a third burn to deorbit itself over the Indian Ocean.
• Aerocube-8A and 8B, from the Aerospace Corporation, are two 1.5U cubesats testing an ion-electrospray propulsion system and carbon nanotube materials.