 ESTCube-1 illustration | |
| Mission type | Technology |
|---|---|
| Operator | University of Tartu |
| COSPAR ID | 2013-021C |
| SATCAT no. | 39161 |
| Website | http://www.estcube.eu/en/home |
| Mission duration | Planned: 12 months Final: 1 year, 9 months, 10 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Launch mass | 1.048 kilograms (2.31 lb) |
| Dry mass | 1.048 kilograms (2.31 lb) |
| Power | 3.6 W [1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 7 May 2013, 02:06:31 UTC |
| Rocket | Vega flight VV02 |
| Launch site | Kourou ELA-1 |
| Contractor | ESA |
| End of mission | |
| Deactivated | 17 Feb 2015, 10:27:00 UTC[2] |
| Last contact | 19 May 2015[1] |
| Decay date | 2038*estimated |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 665 km |
| Apogee altitude | 665 km |
| Inclination | 98.129 degrees |
| Period | 98.03 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 the 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.
- ^ 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)
- ^ "ESTCube-1's 651-day career: 53 dissertations and a marriage proposal". 17 Feb 2015.
- ^ esa. "Launch schedule".
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Amsatwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
photowas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "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.
- ^ "ESTCube-1 mentioned in Nature's regional report". 17 Nov 2010.
- ^ "ESTCube-1's 651-day career: 53 dissertations and a marriage proposal" ERR, 17 February 2015
- ^ "ESTCube-1 sends its last words: "Long live Estonia!"". 17 Feb 2015.