BeeSat-1 or Berlin Experimental and Educational Satellite 1, is a German satellite operated by the Technical University of Berlin. The spacecraft is a single unit CubeSat, which was designed to test systems intended for use on future spacecraft, including a new design of reaction wheel.[2][3] It has also been used for amateur radio, and is equipped with a small camera.[4]
BeeSat-1 was launched by a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, serial number C14, flying in the Core Alone, or PSLV-CA, configuration.[5] The launch took place from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, at 06:21 UTC on 23 September 2009.[6] BeeSat-1 was a secondary payload aboard the rocket, which deployed the Oceansat-2 satellite. Five other secondary payloads were flown aboard the rocket; SwissCube-1, UWE-2, ITU-pSat1, Rubin 9.1 and Rubin 9.2.[7][8]
BeeSat-1 is operating in a Sun-synchronous orbit with an apogee of 723 kilometres (449 mi), a perigee of 714 kilometres (444 mi) and 98.4 degrees of inclination to the equator. It has an orbital period of 99.16 minutes.[9] BeeSat-1 was designed to operate for at least twelve months,[2] and as of January 2011 it is still operational.[4]
See also
References
- ^ "BEESAT Satellite details 2009-051C NORAD 35933". N2YO. 21 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
- ^ a b "BEESAT-1". TUB. 25 May 2010. Archived from the original on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ "BeeSat-1 (Berlin Experimental Educational Satellite-1)". eoPortal Directory. eoPortal. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ a b "BEESAT". AMSAT. Archived from the original on 3 March 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "PSLV CA". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "BeeSat". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Rubin 9". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 6 January 2011.