BeeSat-1
BeeSat-1
German satellite
BeeSat-1 or Berlin Experimental and Educational Satellite 1, is a German satellite operated by the Technical University of Berlin. The spacecraft is a single unit CubeSat, which was designed to test systems intended for use on future spacecraft, including a new design of reaction wheel.[2][3] It has also been used for amateur radio, and is equipped with a small camera.[4]
BeeSat-1 was launched by a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, serial number C14, flying in the Core Alone, or PSLV-CA, configuration.[5] The launch took place from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, at 06:21 UTC on 23 September 2009.[6] BeeSat-1 was a secondary payload aboard the rocket, which deployed the Oceansat-2 satellite. Five other secondary payloads were flown aboard the rocket; SwissCube-1, UWE-2, ITU-pSat1, Rubin 9.1 and Rubin 9.2.[7][8]
BeeSat-1 is operating in a Sun-synchronous orbit with an apogee of 723 kilometres (449 mi), a perigee of 714 kilometres (444 mi) and 98.4 degrees of inclination to the equator. It has an orbital period of 99.16 minutes.[9] BeeSat-1 was designed to operate for at least twelve months,[2] and as of January 2011[update] it is still operational.[4]