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Astrocast-P

Jump to: Mission Objectives, Mission Instrumentation, Mission Parameters, Additional Information

Mission Images:

Astrocast satellites
Image credit: Astrocast
Mission Objectives:

Main mission goal: machine-to-machine communication between satellites.

Scientific/engineering mission goal: orbit determination in real-time and in post-processing based on low-cost single-frequency multi-GNSS receivers onboard the satellite. After the precursor mission, a constellation of ~40 satellites is planned using low-cost multi-GNSS dual-frequency receivers, allowing the formation and computation of a highly uniform polyhedron in space with mm-accuracy, relevant for geocenter, reference frame and GNSS orbit determination.

Role of SLR for the mission: Validation of the satellite positioning and orbit determination results obtained by the onboard low-cost multi-GNSS receivers (u-blox NEO-M8T) capable of tracking GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou and QZSS satellites, both, in real-time and in post-processing mode. Tracking of the Astrocast precursor satellite is only required during several concentrated time periods of about one day, so that the validation of the orbits obtained from individual GNSS and from a combination of systems is possible.

Mission Parameters:
Satellite Astrocast-0.1 Astrocast-0.2
Sponsor: ETH Zurich and Astrocast SA ETH Zurich and Astrocast SA
Expected Life: 1-2 years 1-2 years
Primary Applications: Precursor mission for a future constellation Precursor mission for a future constellation
COSPAR ID: 1809941 1901806
SIC Code: 2401 2402
NORAD SSC Code: 43798 44083
Launch Date: 2018-12-03 2019-04-01
NP Bin Size: 15 sec 15 sec
RRA Shape: 3 small reflectors, slightly tilted 3 small reflectors, slightly tilted
Reflectors: 3 small reflectors, slightly tilted 3 small reflectors, slightly tilted
Size of Reflector: 10 mm diameter, 7.5 mm height 10 mm diameter, 7.5 mm height
Orbit:    
Orbital period: ~90 minutes ~90 minutes
Inclination: 98 degrees 98 degrees
Altitude: 575 km 575 km
Eccentricity: ~0 ~0

 

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