ESTCube-1
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 and successfully deployed into orbit. 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.
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 |
| 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 |
| Last contact | 19 May 2015 |
| 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 |
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. 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. The last signal from ESTCube-1 was received on 19 May 2015.