ESTCube-1 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 0 views
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scheduled to be launched to orbit in second half of 2013
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Student Satellite is an educational project that university and high school students can participate in
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The CubeSat standard for nanosatellites was followed during the engineering of ESTCube-1, resulting in a 10x10x11.35 cm cube, with a volume of 1 liter and a mass of 1.048 kg.
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According to the CubeSat standard there are three different sized CubeSats corresponding to size 1U, 2U and 3U. Base side lengths are the same but height is 2 to 3 times bigger than 1U CubeSats
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Mass is also set in CubeSat standard, the highest possible mass for 1U CubeSat is 1300 grams, 2U CubeSat 2600 grams and 3U CubeSat 4000 grams
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CubeSat base side length must be 100.0±0.1 millimeters and satellite height must be 113.5±0.1 mm
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the Estonian satellite
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a 1U CubeSat
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Although
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its main purpose was to educate students, the satellite does have a scientific purpose.
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On board of the satellite is an electric solar wind sail (e-sail) which was created by a Finnish scientist Pekka Janhunen
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it is the first real experimentation of the e-sail
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10 meters of e-sail 50 to 20 micrometers thick wire of high-technology structure so-called Heytether will be deployed from the satellite.
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The deployment of the Heytether can be detected by decrease of the satellite's speed of rotation or by a on-board camera
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To control the loaded solar wind sail elements interaction with the plasma surrounding the earth and the effect it has on the spacecraft spinning speed the spacecraft has two on-board nanotechnologic electron emitters/gun
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The electron emitters are connected to the e-sail element and by shooting out electrons it loads the e-sail element positively to 500 volts
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The positive ions in the plasma push the e-sail element and have an influence on the satellites rotation speed
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The effect of the e-sail is measured by the change in rotation speed
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The camera is used to take a picture of Earth and the successfully deployed Heytether. [edit]
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ESTCube-1 will be sent to orbit by the European Space Agency's rocket Vega in spring of 2013
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Start in spring of 2013
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Half an hour after the satellites deployment from the start capsule satellites antennas will be opened and radio transmitter and important subsystems will be switched on
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First days or weeks will be used to test the satellite and set it to work on full capacity.
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Orienting the satellite so the on-board camera will be faced to earth
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trying to take a picture of Estonia
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Rotating the satellite on an axis with a speed of 1 revolution per second
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E-sail element deployment from the satellite by a centrifugal force and confirming the deployment via the on-board camera
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Activating the electron emitter and loading the e-sail
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Measuring the e-sails and Lorentz force by satellites revolutions per second
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If possible using the negatively charged e-sail to take the satellite off orbit and burn it in the earths atmosphere
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If everything goes perfect the mission can be completed within a few weeks to a month
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Lifespan of the satellite
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Measurements and weight
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Scientific purpose
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Communicating with the satellite
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held by two International Amateur Radio Unions three registered frequencies
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Periodic but very slow communication is done on a telegraphic signal on a frequency of 437.250 MHz
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the most important satellite parameters are transmitted every 3 to 5 minutes
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For fast connections FSK-modulation radio signal on a frequency of 437.505 MHz with a 9600 baud connection speed and AX.25 standard is used.
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Somewhat slow connection speed is caused by the usage of amateur radio frequencies which allow a maximum of 25 kiloherz bandwidth
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Fast connection is used only when the satellite has been given a specific
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Using the GFSK-modulation maximum possible connection speed is 19,200 bits per second
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Software
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FreeRTOS on the satellite's Command and Data Handling System and camera module
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TinyOS on the satellite's communication module
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Financing and costs
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Cheapest possibility to send a satellite onto orbit is offered by European Space Agency. Because Estonia is an associated member of ESA most of the launch expenses (about 70,000 euros) will be covered from Estonian member fee for educational expenses. With the launch total expenses for the project are approximately 100,000 euros.