OPS-SAT
OPS-SAT is a CubeSat by the European Space Agency (ESA) and it is intended to demonstrate the improvements in mission control capabilities that will arise when satellites can fly more powerful on-board computers. The mission has the objective to break the cycle of "has never flown, will never fly" in the area of satellite control. It was the first CubeSat operated directly by ESA.
Engineering model of OPS-SAT, seen on a test bench | |
| Mission type | Technological demonstrator |
|---|---|
| Operator | ESA |
| SATCAT no. | 44878 |
| Website | www |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | 3U CubeSat |
| Manufacturer | Graz University of Technology, Austria |
| Launch mass | 7 kg |
| Dimensions | 96 mm × 96 mm × 290 mm (3.8 in × 3.8 in × 11.4 in) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 18 December 2019 |
| Rocket | Soyuz VS23· |
| Launch site | Centre Spatial Guyanais (Ensemble de Lancement Soyouz) |
| Contractor | Arianespace· |
The satellite has an experimental computer that is ten times more powerful than traditional ESA on-board computers. This on-board computer provides an experimental platform to run software experiments on board. One innovative concept is the deployment of space software in the form of apps. This concept is enabled by the NanoSat MO Framework (NMF) and allows Apps to be uploaded to the spacecraft and then started on board. This is a new concept that ESA has successfully demonstrated in space.
OPS-SAT has been launched at 08:54:20 UTC on 18 December 2019 exactly twenty-four hours later than originally planned.