RaInCube

Last updated
RaInCube
RainCube Main Antenna.jpg
NamesRainCube
Mission type Technology demonstration
Operator NASA/JPL
COSPAR ID 1998-067NW [1]
SATCAT no. 43548 [1]
Website Website
Mission duration2 years, 5 months and 10 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type6U CubeSat
Manufacturer NASA/JPL
Launch mass12kg
Dimensions10 × 20 × 30 cm (3.9 × 7.9 × 11.8 in)
Start of mission
Launch dateMay 21, 2018 (2018-05-21), 08:44:06 UTC [2]
Rocket Antares 230
Launch site Wallops Pad 0A
Contractor Orbital ATK
Deployed from International Space Station
Deployment dateJuly 13, 2018 (2018-07-13) [3]
End of mission
Disposal Reentry
Decay dateDec. 24, 2020
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Perigee altitude 399 km (248 mi)
Apogee altitude 407 km (253 mi)
Inclination 51.64°
Transponders
Band Ka band
Instruments
Ka band radar
 

RaInCube, also stylized as RainCube, was a 6U CubeSat made by NASA as an experimental satellite. It had a small radar and an antenna. It was put into orbit in May 2018 and was deployed from the International Space Station on June 25, 2018. It re-entered Earth's atmosphere and burned up on Dec. 24, 2020. [4] [5] It was used to track large storms. [6]

Contents

Mission objectives

RainCube's mission objectives were to: [7] [4]

Launch and deployment

Launch of an Antares 230 rocket with Cygnus OA-9E Orbital ATK CRS-9 Launch (NHQ201805210003).jpg
Launch of an Antares 230 rocket with Cygnus OA-9E

RaInCube was launched as part of the Cygnus OA-9E Commercial Resupply Services mission on board an Antares 230 rocket on May 21, 2018, at Wallops Pad 0A. The Cygnus spacecraft docked with the International Space Station on May 24, 2018, three days later. RaInCube was finally deployed from the International Space Station on July 13, 2018. [3] [2] [8]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Technical details for satellite RAINCUBE". N2YO.com - Real Time Satellite Tracking and Predictions. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  2. 1 2 Clark, Stephen. "Antares rocket launch kicks off space station's next commercial cargo delivery – Spaceflight Now" . Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  3. 1 2 "RainCube". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  4. 1 2 "JPL | CubeSat | RainCube". www.jpl.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
  5. "A Pioneering NASA Mini Weather Satellite Ends Its Mission". www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/a-pioneering-nasa-mini-weather-satellite-ends-its-mission. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  6. "NASA Tests Tiny Satellites to Track Global Storms". NASA/JPL. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
  7. "RaInCube - eoPortal Directory - Satellite Missions". directory.eoportal.org. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
  8. "OA-9 Cygnus cargo ship arrives at ISS". SpaceFlight Insider. 2018-05-24. Retrieved 2021-12-17.