ESTCube-1

ESTCube-1
ESTCube-1 illustration
Mission typeTechnology
OperatorUniversity of Tartu
COSPAR ID2013-021C Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.39161
Websitehttp://www.estcube.eu/en/home
Mission durationPlanned: 12 months
Final: 1 year, 9 months, 10 days
Spacecraft properties
Launch mass1.048 kilograms (2.31 lb)
Dry mass1.048 kilograms (2.31 lb)
Power3.6 W [1]
Start of mission
Launch date7 May 2013, 02:06:31 (2013-05-07UTC02:06:31Z) UTC
RocketVega flight VV02
Launch siteKourou ELA-1
ContractorESA
End of mission
Deactivated17 Feb 2015, 10:27:00 (2015-02-17UTC10:27Z) UTC[2]
Last contact19 May 2015[1]
Decay date2038*estimated
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude665 km
Apogee altitude665 km
Inclination98.129 degrees
Period98.03 minutes
 

ESTCube-1 is the first Estonian satellite and first satellite in the world to attempt to use an electric solar wind sail (E-sail). It was launched on 7 May 2013 aboard Vega VV02 carrier rocket[3][4] and successfully deployed into orbit.[5] The CubeSat standard for nanosatellites was followed during the engineering of ESTCube-1, resulting in a 10×10×11.35 cm cube, with a volume of 1 liter and a mass of 1.048 kg.[6][7]

The mission ended officially on 17 February 2015 and it was said that during this time it resulted in 29 bachelor's and 19 master's dissertations, 5 doctoral theses and 4 start-ups.[8] The deployment of the E-sail tether was unsuccessful, and thus no measurements were taken of the E-sail or of the plasma braking deployment system.[9] The last signal from ESTCube-1 was received on 19 May 2015.

  1. ^ a b Vladislav-Veniamin Pustõnski, ESTCube-1 ceased working after 2 years in orbit Archived 2018-03-11 at the Wayback Machine, Estonian Space Office (accessed 8 June 2016)
  2. ^ "ESTCube-1's 651-day career: 53 dissertations and a marriage proposal". 17 Feb 2015.
  3. ^ esa. "Launch schedule".
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Amsat was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference photo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Estonia's student cubesat satellite is ready for the next Vega launch". Arianespace. Archived from the original on March 28, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
  7. ^ "ESTCube-1 mentioned in Nature's regional report". 17 Nov 2010.
  8. ^ "ESTCube-1's 651-day career: 53 dissertations and a marriage proposal" ERR, 17 February 2015
  9. ^ "ESTCube-1 sends its last words: "Long live Estonia!"". 17 Feb 2015.

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