CASSIOPE 1

Launch data: Designation  39265 / 13055A Launch date  29 Sept 2013 - 16:00 UT Launch site  Va, SLC-4E Launch vehicle  Falcon-9 v1.1 Mission  Communication, store dump Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  325 x 1485 km Eccentricity   Inclination  81.0 deg Period  103.0 min

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• The CASSIOPE Mission will carry the experimental Cascade payload to demonstrate the world's first commercial space-based digital courier service. When proven, future operational missions will provide a large-scale data transfer service to remote commercial, civil and military clients anywhere in the world. Similar to the operations of a traditional courier company, Cascade will pick-up a parcel at close of business day, and deliver it to geographically dispersed destinations before work starts the next day. The difference is that the service will utilize a small satellite and the packages will be very large digital data files. Initially, one Low Earth Orbit satellite will orbit above the Earth at an altitude of 300 to 1,500 km once every 1.5 hours, providing multiple opportunities each day for the pick-up and delivery of data anywhere on Earth. As demand increases, capacity can be expanded by adding additional satellites. Cascade is accessed through small turnkey terminals with built-in mass storage capacity and 1-2 meter antennas. The terminal communicates with the Cascade control centre to schedule pickup and confirm delivery. As the satellite comes overhead, the data is transmitted at 1.2 gigabits per second - 12 times faster than the operating speed of most office LANs. At that speed, the contents of a typical music CD would be transferred in a little over 4 seconds and a full length DVD movie in little more than a minute. This point-to-point delivery system ensures a high degree of security. CASSIOPE will operate in the higher frequency Ka-Band radio spectrum providing greater bandwidth.
• CASSIOPE is a space weather research satellite which will sample the Earth's ionosphere, dipping through layers of the outermost layers of the atmosphere to gauge how it responds to solar activity. Research using Cassiope could help scientists understand how solar storms can impact everyday life by disrupting communications or knocking out electrical grids.
• Cassiope carries a communications relay payload for a commercial digital broadcast courier service and an instrument to observe the Earth's ionosphere. The rocket will fly in the Falcon 9 v1.1 configuration with upgraded Merlin 1D engines, stretched fuel tanks, and a payload fairing.

Mission details:

• Launch delayed from April, June 18, July 9, Sept. 5, Sept. 10, Sept. 14 and Sept. 15, 2013.
• The first launch of the Falcon 9 v1.1, a significant upgrade of the Falcon 9 rocket, was successful and placed the CASSIOPE payload and several small satellites in orbit on Sept 29, 2013.
  The Falcon 9 v1.1 stage 2 is thought to be stretched 2.5m long compared to the original version, with an additional 15000 kg of propellant carried, lengthening the burn time from 346s to 375s. The new Merlin 1D-vac engine has a large increase in thrust, 801 kN compared to 342 kN for the older Merlin 1C.
• CASSIOPE is a Canadian Space Agency satellite carrying two payloads: the CASCADE high bandwith Ka-band communications relay package and the ePOP suite of instruments to study the polar ionosphere. The satellite is built by MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA Ltd.) using a Bristol Aerospace spacecraft bus.

External links:

• EOportal.org Satellite description
• Satellite tracking: Real time satellite tracking