Author: mbabcock9

PROX-1

The PROX-1 mission involves a large 9U cubesat produced by Professor Glenn Lightsey’s team at GTRI in the summer of 2019.

Craft Overview:

PROX-1 was tasked with deploying a separate, smaller cubesat from within, LightSail 2. LightSail 2 is a 3U cubesat which was a solar sail demonstration mission developed in part by the California Polytechnic State University. PROX-1’s mission was to orbit in close proximity of LightSail 2 and acquire images of its orbit.

Results of the Mission:

The mission is currently a success. PROX-1 is still in orbit and is imaging LightSail.

Deployment:

PROX-1 was successfully launched from Falcon Heavy on June 25, 2019 from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. This was the third launch of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.

Sources and Additional Information:

  1. https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/prox-1.htm
  2. https://ae.gatech.edu/news/2017/05/prox-1-launch-has-launched
  3. https://ae.gatech.edu/news/2019/06/aes-prox-1- satellite-launches-kennedy-space-center
  4. https://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=44339
AcronymProx-1
Full NameProx-1 (Nanosat 7)
Size9U
StatusActive
Launch DateJune 25, 2019
NORAD ID44339
Downlink Frequency437.xxx MHz
Principal InvestigatorGlenn Lightsey

RANGE

The RANGE mission involves two 1.5U satellites flying in a leader-follower formation.  The goal of this mission is to improve the positioning (relative and absolute) capabilities of nanosatellites.

Craft Overview:

Each cubesat involved in the mission is a 4kg, 1.5U cubesat.  Each cubesat is solar-powered, with 2 deployable solar arrays, solar cells, and batteries.

The relative position of each satellite is measured using an on-board compact laser ranging system.  This compact laser ranging system also doubles as a low-rate optical communication system.  The satellites do not contain an active propulsion system so the distance between the two is controlled through differential drag techniques.

Deployment:

RANGE was successfully launched into orbit on December 3rd, 2018. RANGE was launched on board a SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket as part of Spaceflight’s SSO-A mission. RANGE is Georgia Tech’s first small satellite to reach orbit.

Sources and Additional Information:

  1. https://ssdl.gatech.edu/index.php/research/projects/ranging-and-nanosatellite-guidance-experiment-range
  2. https://ae.gatech.edu/news/2018/12/its-space-georgia-techs-range-cubesat-launched-december-3
  3. https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/range.htm
  4. https://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=43773
  5. http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/formal_detail.php?serialnum=497
AcronymRANGE
Full NameThe Ranging And Nanosatellite Guidance Experiment
SizeTwo 1.5U
StatusIn Orbit
Launch DateDecember 3rd, 2018
NORAD ID43773
Downlink Frequency437.15 (MHz)
Principal InvestigatorBrian Gunter

TARGIT

TARGIT is a 3U, solar-powered CubeSat that will contain a compact altimetry laser system. This compact laser system is capable of delivering accurate topographic data using an on-board LiDAR system from as far at 10 kilometers away. The applications for this mission are particularly valuable for mapping the topography of near by planetary bodies such as moons and near-Earth asteroids.

TARGIT is a joint mission with Dr. Gunter’s group, Georgia Tech Research Institute, and the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.

Craft Overview:

Deployment:

TARGIT was selected in 2017 to be launched as a part of the ELaNa program by NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSIL).

Sources and Additional Information:

  1. http://www.ssdl.gatech.edu/research/projects/tethering-and-ranging-mission-georgia-institute-technology-targit
  2. https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/targit.htm
  3. https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sat/cubesat.htm
  4. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/elana/index.html
AcronymTARGIT
Full NameThe Tethering and Ranging Mission of the Georgia Institute of Technology
Size3U
StatusFinal integration and assembly of satellites
Launch DateTBD
NORAD IDTBD
Downlink FrequencyTBD
Principal InvestigatorBrian Gunter