{"id":19091,"date":"2019-06-23T15:10:39","date_gmt":"2019-06-23T19:10:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=19091"},"modified":"2019-06-23T15:10:39","modified_gmt":"2019-06-23T19:10:39","slug":"student-and-amateur-cubesat-news-roundup-june-23-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=19091","title":{"rendered":"Student and amateur CubeSat news roundup – June.23.2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

A sampling of recent articles, press releases, etc. related to student and amateur CubeSat<\/a> \/ SmallSat projects and programs:<\/p>\n

\"TechDemoSat-1<\/a>
TechDemoSat-1 drag sail deployed May 2019. The sail, developed at Cranfield University, will reduce the time for the satellite to de-orbit.
<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

** Cranfield University<\/strong><\/a> team’s Icarus-1 drag sail successfully deployed on Surrey Satellite’s TechDemoSat-1<\/strong> smallsat in orbit back in May: TechDemoSat-1 on-board camera captures drag sail deployment | SSTL<\/a><\/p>\n

TechDemoSat-1, a 150 kg in-orbit technology demonstration small satellite mission, validated 8 innovative UK spacecraft instruments and software payloads and also acquired ocean wind speed datasets<\/a>\u00a0using GNSS reflectometry.<\/em><\/p>\n

The deployed sail measures approximately 6.7 m2 and is designed to significantly increase the spacecraft\u2019s rate of orbital decay, in compliance with current Space Debris Mitigation best practice and guidelines.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Stephen Hobbs, Head of Cranfield University\u2019s Space Group, commented \u201cAt Cranfield we are delighted to see our Icarus de-orbit technology demonstrated successfully in orbit \u2013 again.\u00a0 With the Icarus sails now deployed on both TechDemoSat-1 and Carbonite-1, SSTL and Cranfield have demonstrated clear leadership in this technology.\u00a0 We hope to see many more satellites following TechDemoSat-1\u2019s example to keep space clear of debris.\u00a0 It\u2019s been great to work with SSTL on this mission.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The Icarus-1 drag sail consists of a thin aluminium frame fitted around one of the external panels of the spacecraft in which four trapezoidal Kapton sails and booms are stowed and restrained by a cord.\u00a0 Deployment is achieved by activating cord-cutter actuators, allowing the stored energy in the spring hinges to unfold the booms and the sail.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"TechDemoSat-1\"<\/a>
TechDemoSat-1<\/a> built by Surrey Satellite Systems, Ltd.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

** The Planetary Society’s LightSail-2<\/a> to launch on the SpaceX Falcon Heavy STP-2 mission<\/strong>. The sail follows several previous solar sail projects<\/a> (Japan’s IKAROS 2010<\/a> was the first to demonstrate sunlight driven propulsion) and aims to be the first of the Society’s sails to demonstrate net thrust. The sail will be released from the Georgia Tech Prox-1<\/a> carrier satellite (see below) about a week after the launch.<\/p>\n

Follow progress with the mission at:<\/p>\n