CubeSail

This article is about the Surrey satellite. For the University of Illinois satellite, see CubeSail (UltraSail).
CubeSail
Mission typeTechnology
Websitewww.surrey.ac.uk/surrey-space-centre/missions/cubesail
Mission duration1 year (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type3U CubeSat
ManufacturerSurrey Satellite Technology / Astrium
BOL mass3 kg (6.6 lb)[1]
DimensionsSail: 5 m × 5 m
Bus: 10 cm x 10 cm x 34 cm
Start of mission
Launch dateTBD
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth orbit

CubeSail is a proposed nanosatellite project by the Surrey Space Centre (SSC) in England. The spacecraft is to be a 3U CubeSat propelled by a 25 m² solar sail. The project is financed and technically supported by aerospace manufacturers Astrium and Surrey Satellite Technology. It is designed for operation in low Earth orbit, serving as an atmospheric drag brake to facilitate the removal of satellite debris.[2]

The first successful solar sail spacecraft was the Japanese IKAROS mission, launched on 21 May 2010.[3][4][5]

  1. ^ CubeSail: A low cost CubeSat based solar sail demonstration mission. V. Lappas, et al. Advances in Space Research. vol 48, issue, 11. 1 December 2011.pp: 1890-1901. doi:10.1016/j.asr.2011.05.033
  2. ^ Friedman, Louis (November 30, 2015). Human Spaceflight: From Mars to the Stars. University of Arizona Press. ISBN 978-0816531462.
  3. ^ Stephen Clark (20 May 2010). "H-2A Launch Report – Mission Status Center". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  4. ^ Samantha Harvey (21 May 2010). "Solar System Exploration: Missions: By Target: Venus: Future: Akatsuki". NASA. Archived from the original on 10 April 2010. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  5. ^ "Launch Day of the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 17(H-IIA F17)". JAXA. 3 March 2010. Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2010.