Subscribe with SteadyPropCube 1, 2, 3 (Flora, Fauna, Merryweather)
PropCube 1, 2, 3 [NPS]
The PropCube (Propagation CubeSat) series of 1U CubeSats are ionospheric research satellites to measure artificial ionization.
The satellites were developed by the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) and provided by Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems Inc.
The cubesats are performing dual frequency ionospheric calibration measurements of ionospheric electron density and irregularities. They performing measurements of total electron content by differential group delay, of plasma irregularities by amplitude and phase scintillations and detection of artificial ionization and irregularities generated by the HAARP, Arecibo and Sura high frequency facilities.
PropCube 1 (Fauna) and PropCube 3 (Merryweather) were launched together into a 63 orbit, while PropCube 2 (Fauna) was to be in high inclination orbit, but was instead launched into a 51 orbit.
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Technology |
| Operator: | Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) |
| Contractors: | Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) (prime); Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems Inc. (bus) |
| Equipment: | |
| Configuration: | CubeSat (1U) |
| Propulsion: | |
| Power: | Solar cells, batteries |
| Lifetime: | |
| Mass: | 1 kg |
| Orbit: | 493 km × 800 km, 64.78 (#1, 3); |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PropCube 1 (Flora) | 2015-058N | 08.10.2015 | Va SLC-3E | Atlas-5(401) | with Intruder 13, Intruder 14, SNaP-3 ALICE, SNaP-3 EDDIE, SNaP-3 JIMI, LMRSTSat, SINOD-D 1, SINOD-D 3, AeroCube 5C, OCSD A, ARC 1, BisonSat, Fox 1A, PropCube 3 | |
| PropCube 2 (Fauna) | 2017-071R | 12.11.2017 | WI LC-0A | Antares-230 | with Cygnus CRS-8, EcAMSat, TechEdSat 6, Lemur-2 50, ..., 57, ISARA, CHEFsat, Asgardia 1, OCSD B, OCSD C | |
| PropCube 3 (Merryweather) | 2015-058K | 08.10.2015 | Va SLC-3E | Atlas-5(401) | with Intruder 13, Intruder 14, SNaP-3 ALICE, SNaP-3 EDDIE, SNaP-3 JIMI, LMRSTSat, SINOD-D 1, SINOD-D 3, AeroCube 5C, OCSD A, ARC 1, BisonSat, Fox 1A, PropCube 1 |
Launch Sites:
- Va = Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, USA
- WI = Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Virginia, USA
References:
- NRO: GRACE CubeSat FactSheet
- Paul A. Bernhardt, Carl L. Seifring, Stanley J. Briczinski et al.: The Largest Ionospheric Disturbances Produced by the HAARP HF Facility
