Quakesat

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Quakesat
QuakeSat.jpg
Mission type Earth observation
COSPAR ID 2003-031F OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
SATCAT no. 27845
Website
Mission duration550 days (ended 31 December 2004)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft CubeSat
Spacecraft type3 CubeSat
Manufacturer Stanford University
Launch mass5 kg (11 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date30 June 2003, 14:15:26 UTC
Rocket Rockot/Briz-KM
Launch site Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 133
Contractor Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric orbit [1]
Regime Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude 821 km (510 mi)
Apogee altitude 833 km (518 mi)
Inclination 98.70°
Period 101.40 minutes
Instruments
Magnetometer

Quakesat is an Earth observation nanosatellite based on three CubeSats. It was designed to be a proof of concept for space-based detection of extremely low frequency signals, thought by some to be earthquake precursor signals. The science behind the concept is disputed. [2]

Contents

Mission

The students working on the project hope that the detection of magnetic signals may have value in showing the onset of an earthquake. [3] QuakeFinder, the company that put the satellites together, is from Palo Alto, California. They are gathering data on the extremely low magnetic field fluctuations that are associated with earthquakes to help better understand this area of study. The primary instrument is a magnetometer housed in a 2 ft (0.6 m) telescoping boom.

On 30 June 2003, deployment of Quakesat was alongside other university CubeSats and one commercial CubeSat. The launch occurred on a Rokot rocket from Russia's Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

The mission was planned to last one year, but ended up lasting 1 and a half year. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. "Trajectory: Quakesat 2003-031F". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. Malik, Tariq (2003). "What's Shakin'? Tiny Satellite to Try and Predict Earthquakes". Space.com. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
  3. "QuakeSat". eoPortal. 12 June 2012. Archived from the original on 23 August 2024. Retrieved 4 December 2024.

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