TUGSAT-1
TUGSAT-1, also known as BRITE-Austria and CanX-3B, is the first Austrian satellite. It is an optical astronomy spacecraft operated by the Graz University of Technology as part of the international BRIght-star Target Explorer programme.
| Mission type | Astronomy |
|---|---|
| Operator | Graz University of Technology |
| COSPAR ID | 2013-009F |
| SATCAT no. | 39091 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | GNB |
| Manufacturer | University of Toronto |
| Launch mass | 7 kilograms (15 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 25 February 2013, 12:31 UTC |
| Rocket | PSLV-CA C20 |
| Launch site | Satish Dhawan FLP |
| Contractor | ISRO UTIAS |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 776 kilometres (482 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 790 kilometres (490 mi) |
| Inclination | 98.62 degrees |
| Period | 100.37 minutes |
| Epoch | 8 November 2013, 11:26:32 UTC[1] |
Details
TUGSAT-1 was manufactured by the University of Toronto based on the Generic Nanosatellite Bus, and had a mass at launch of 7 kilograms (15 lb)[2] (plus another 7 kg for the XPOD separation system). The spacecraft is cube-shaped, with each side measuring 20 centimetres (7.9 in).[3] The satellite will be used, along with five other spacecraft, to conduct photometric observations of stars with apparent magnitude of greater than 4.0 as seen from Earth.[4] TUGSAT-1 was one of the first two BRITE satellites to be launched, along with the Austro-Canadian UniBRITE-1 spacecraft. Four more satellites, two Canadian and two Polish, were launched at later dates.
Launch
The TUGSAT-1 spacecraft was launched through the University of Toronto's Nanosatellite Launch System programme, as part of the NLS-8 launch, along with UniBRITE-1 and AAUSAT3.[5] The NLS-8 launch was subcontracted to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), who placed the satellites into orbit using a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in the PSLV-CA configuration, flying from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.[6] The NLS spacecraft were secondary payloads on the rocket, whose primary mission was to deploy the Franco-Indian SARAL ocean research satellite. Canada's Sapphire and NEOSSat-1 spacecraft, and the United Kingdom's STRaND-1, were also carried by the same rocket under separate launch contracts.[2] The launch took place at 12:31 UTC on 25 February 2013, and the rocket deployed all of its payloads successfully.[7]
References
- Peat, Chris (8 November 2013). "CANX 3B (BRITE-ASRA) - Orbit". Heavens Above. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
- "PSLV-C20/SARAL Mission" (PDF). Indian Space Research Organisation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- "System Overview". TUGSAT Web Portal. Graz University of Technology. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- "Science Goals". BRITE Executive Science Team. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- "About NLS-8". UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- "PSLV-C20 on FLP". UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory. 21 February 2013. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- Clark, Stephen (25 February 2013). "Ocean monitor, smartphone satellite launched from India". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 26 February 2013.