ESTCUBE 1

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ESTCUBE 1 is classified as:

NORAD ID: 39161

Int'l Code: 2013-021C

Launch date: May 7, 2013
Source: Estonia (EST)
Launch site: FRENCH GUIANA (FRGUI)

Uplink (MHz):
Downlink (MHz): 437.505/2401.250
Beacon (MHz): 437.254
Mode: 9k6 GFSK CW
Call sign: ES5E
Status: Inactive

ESTCube 1 is Estonia's first satellite. The tiny CubeSat, built by a student consortium led by the University of Tartu, will extend a 32-foot (9.8-m) tether in orbit to demonstrate a novel propulsion method called the electric solar sail. If employed by larger satellites, the electric solar sail concept would be able to naturally remove spacecraft from orbit or accelerate probes to high velocities into deep space. Conceived by scientists in Finland, the idea works by unfurling electrified wires from a satellite to interact with charged particles streaming away from the sun in the solar wind. Scientists say the interaction between the spidery wires and space plasma would produce a gentle force to gradually propel a spacecraft. ESTCube 1's goal is to prove the electric solar sail concept is valid. A follow-up mission in development by Finnish students will launch next year with an experiment to further test the electric sail's ability to deorbit a satellite.