ICube-1
| Mission type | Technology |
|---|---|
| Website | www.icube.org.pk |
| Mission duration | 2 years |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | CubeSat |
| Manufacturer | IST |
| Launch mass | 1.08 kilograms (2.4 lb) |
| Power | 2 watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 21 November 2013, 07:10 UTC |
| Rocket | Dnepr |
| Launch site | Dombarovsky 370/13 |
| Contractor | Kosmotras |
| Deployed from | UniSat-5 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Sun-Synchronous |
iCUBE-1 is a miniaturized satellite built by IST with an objective to provide wide range of future experiments in the domain of imaging, microgravity, biology, nanotechnology, space dynamics, chemistry, space physics and various other fields. It can also provide a test bed for developing satellite constellations for specific applications.
Launched in Low Earth Orbit, onboard Dnepr launch vehicle from Yasny launch base, Russia. It houses several sensors to collect data for scientific purposes. iCUBE-1 is a fully autonomous satellite and is capable of maintaining its health via its on-board computer.
Dimensions: 10 cm x 10 cm x10cm.
Power: It uses Advanced Triple Junction (ATJ) cells. Five faces of ICUBE-1 have solar panels consisting of two solar cells on each panel capable of delivering approximately 2W of power. Each cell has a dimension of 40 by 80 millimetres (1.6 in × 3.1 in) with an efficiency of more than 27.5% @ 25°C in the BOL.
Communication: Uplink : 435.060 MHz, 1200 bit/s AFSK, Downlink : 145.947 MHz, 1200 bit/s BPSK, Beacon: CW and AX25.
Camera: VGA Resolution
Cost: PKR 3-3.5 million
Spokesperson IST Raza Butt said that it’s a positive move for technology in Pakistan. “The world is moving towards miniaturization. The launch cost is significantly low for CubeSats as compared to the bigger satellites. The low cost factor is very attractive for researchers who can test their payloads using these cubesats and then incorporate this technology in their bigger satellites,” he commented.
Initially, iCUBE-1 will transmit a Continuous Wave Morse coded beacon with message “iCUBE-1 First CubeSat of Pakistan”. Amateur radio operators have a great opportunity to hear those signals on the VHF band.
The satellite will send its health data to ground stations and can also be commanded from Satellite tracking and Control Station at IST.[1][2][3]
See also
References
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