UNOSAT (satellite)

UNOSAT was a Brazilian scientific applications nanosatellite, designed, developed, built and tested by researchers and students working at the Northern Paraná University.

Mission typeEarth orbiter
OperatorINPE
COSPAR ID2003-E01
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerNorthern Paraná University
Launch mass8.83 kilograms (19 lb)
Start of mission
Launch dateAugust 25, 2003 (planned)
August 23, 2003 (2003-08-23Z) (Accident of Alcântara
RocketVLS-1 V03
Launch siteAlcântara VLS Pad
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Eccentricity0
Perigee altitude750 kilometres (470 mi)
Apogee altitude750 kilometres (470 mi)
Inclination16°
Period100 minutes
EpochPlanned
 

Features

The primary objective of UNOSAT was to transmit voice messages and a telemetry data packet in AX25 protocol.

The UNOSAT scientific satellite had the following characteristics:[1]

General
  • Format: parallelepiped with 46 cm x 25 cm x 8.5 cm
  • Mass: 8.83 kilograms (19.5 lb)
  • Orbit: heliosynchronous
  • Stabilization: by rotation at 120 rpm
  • Precision: 1 degree
  • Altitude: 750 kilometers (470 mi)

Payload

The instrumentation shipped in UNOSAT was basically composed of: data collectors and transmitters.

The following data would be transmitted to earth:

  • Voice message identifying the satellite
  • Telemetry
  • Temperature of solar panels
  • Rechargeable battery temperatures
  • Temperature of the transmitter and the on-board computer
  • Battery voltage
  • Centripetal acceleration

Mission

As UNOSAT was planned to be launched as a secondary payload along with the SATEC satellite and it would be impossible for the launcher to put them into distinct orbits, both satellites were mechanically connected, although there was electrical and telemetry autonomy between the two. That satellite was lost in the explosion of the VLS-1 V03 launch vehicle on August 23, 2003 in an explosion three days before the launch date. This event came to be known as accident of Alcantara.

References
  1. Satélites desenvolvidos no Brasil serão lançados ainda neste ano. Inovação Tecnológica. 30 April 2003. Retrieved 03 April 2017.
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