Musat1

Argentina

Spacecraft n°:

Argentinian satellite n°: 2

Also called Microsatelite or Micronsat 1
Renamed Victor in orbit

Launch data:

Designation	24291 / 96050A
Launch date	29 Aug 1996 at 05:22 UT
Launch site	Plesetsk, LC-43
Launch vehicle	Molniya-M (Block-2BL-SM2)
Mission	Earth science (C), Technology
Earth orbit on:
Perigee/Apogee	244/1192 km
Inclination	62.8°
Period

MuSat 1 is an experimental vehicle, intended to evaluate in-orbit behaviour of low-cost space technologies. It weights 32 kg in-orbit (34.5 kg mounted onto the LV), and has dimensions 340 × 340 × 450 mm. It carries two video cameras, oriented for earth-imaging, as well as transceivers in both UHF and S bands. Electrical power is provided by four 88-Si cells solar panels, with an end-of-life electrical power of 8W. Its position is determined by means of a 3-axis, flux-gate magnetometer, as well as both solar and horizon sensors, while its attitude is 3-axes controlled by magnetic coils and reaction wheels, with an expected pointing precision of 0.5 deg.

Specifications:

Prime contractor	Instituto universitario aeronautico
Platform
Operator	Instituto universitario aeronautico
Mass at launch	34.5 kg
Mass in orbit	32 kg
Dimension	33 x 43 x 50 cm
Solar array
Equipment	2 cameras
Stabilization	3 axis stabilized
DC power	Solar cells, batteries
Design lifetime

Beacon: 137.95 MHz
Data & telemetry: 400.95 MHz & 2260.5 MHz

The satellite carries 2 CCD cameras (70 m and 2 km resolution)

End of life

Decay

12 Nov 1999

Mission details:

MuSat 1 (Mu (Micro) Satellite) - renamed Victor in orbit - was launched August 29th. 1996, together with Magion 5 and Interbol 2 by a Molniya-M (Blok-2BL-SM2) rocket. The satellite separated from launch vehicle at 05:31 UTC, into a 239 × 1149 km, 62.8 deg inclination orbit, becoming the first argentine built satellite. It is reported to be functional.
MuSat-1 was developed and built by a 25-person team, at the instituto universitario aeronautico, under the Sponsorship of the government of the province of Cordoba, in a 3.5 year, US$1.2M effort. The beacon can be heard every 90 seconds on 137.95 MHz as a brief burst of CW ("Hi hi de MUSAT"). It finally decayed on the 12th November 1999.

Ref: #14, #78a - update: 17.09.11