Falcon-ODE (AFOTEC 1)

Launch data: Designation  44225 / 19026A Launch date  05 May 2019 - 06:00 UT Launch site  OnS LC-1 Launch vehicle  Electron KS Mission  Research (Atmospheric density) Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  496 x 511 km Eccentricity   Inclination  40.0° Period   min

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• Falcon-ODE (Falcon Orbital Debris Experiment) is a 1U-CubeSat built by the US Air Force Academy, to provide calibrated radar and optical targets for ground-based space situational awareness sensors.
• The Falcon-ODE satellite is to release two stainless steel ball bearings on command. The mission is to use measurements of the orbit of these objects to determine changes in the background atmospheric density over time. Falcon-ODE is an educational tool for cadets learning about real DoD space missions by working hand-in-hand with their sponsors from the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC).

Mission details:

• The Falcon Orbital Debris Experiment (Falcon-ODE) 1U cubesat from the USAF Academy, will release 2cm and 4cm steel spheres to act as tracking targets.

External links:

• EOportal.org Satellite description
• EOportal.org Satellite description
• Wikipedia: Satellite Information
• Satellite tracking (n2ya.com): Real time satellite tracking