Chibis-M (RS 39)

Spacecraft nº:

Russian spacecraft nº:

Launch data: Designation  38051 / 11062C Launch date  30 Oct 2011 - 10:11 UT  ejected from Progress M-13M on Jan 24, 2012 at 23:18 UT Launch site  Baikonur, LC-1/5 Launch vehicle  Soyuz-U/ PM-13M, LEO Mission  Scientific, ionosphere Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  486 x 504 km Eccentricity   Inclination  51.6 deg Period  94.4 min

Description:

• Chibis-M carries a plasma-wave experiment, which is aimed at the solution of fundamental problem, a study of the interrelation of the plasma-wave processes connected with the manifestation in the ionosphere of solar, magnetosphere, ionosphere, atmosphere connections and the parameters of space weather. Specific fundamental problem is the search for universal laws governing transformation and dissipation of plasma-wave energy in the magnetosphere-ionosphere system.
• The amateur radio satellite RS-39 has CW beacons on 435.315 and 435.215 MHz that can be received directly by schools and colleges for educational outreach purposes.

Mission details:

• The 40 kg Chibis-M research satellite is launched on board the Progress M-13M cargo, and will later be released into orbit.
• Progress M-13M undocked from the Pirs module on Jan 23, 2012 at 2210 UTC into a 375 x 405 km orbit. It made two burns to reach a 493 x 508 km orbit, and ejected the Chibis-M scientific microsatellite at 2318 UTC on Jan 24.