SwissCube-1

SwissCube is the name of the first completely assembled in Switzerland satellites. It was developed from 2006 to 2007 in a joint project of several Swiss universities after the CubeSat standard.

The first copy of the satellite ( " SwissCube 1") was launched into space by the Indian missile base Sriharikota on September 23, 2009. The only 820 grams heavy, cube-shaped satellite with 10 cm edge length should among other things, have been little explored phenomenon of the night sky glow around 100 km altitude, the so-called airglow explore.

Mission Objectives

Primary mission

As a primary goal is the establishing of a communication system manufactured in Switzerland with satellite and ground station. All necessary systems are redundant. After the successful entry into orbit, the satellite took the communication to the ground station in Lausanne and Fribourg. This transceiver systems are operated in cooperation with the radio amateurs of Canton Vaud. The first SwissCube sends under the amateur radio callsign HB9EG on a frequency of 437.505 MHz in the 70 -centimeter band.

Secondary mission

In addition, as a research mission an investigation been conducted on the phenomenon airglow effect whose properties are not well known. These observed a special camera in the infrared region the phenomenon.

Start

Three identical copies were built:

  • The first was brought into space with an Indian PSLV C14 on 23 September 2009.
  • The second should be placed in orbit with a Vega - ESA mission, which for lack of sponsorship but failed.
  • The third is used for testing purposes.

University cooperation

As part of the SwissCube was a collaboration between different universities in the German - and French-speaking parts of Switzerland:

  • École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne ( EPFL)
  • Haute Ecole d' Ingenerie et de gestion du Canton de Vaud
  • University of Neuchâtel
  • Haute Ecole de Suisse occidentale spécialisée ( Siders )
  • Haute Ecole ARC Ingénierie (St. Imier )
  • Ecole d' Ingénieurs et d' Architectes de Fribourg
  • University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland ( Windisch )

This came on the development cost of the equivalent of approximately 235,000 euro itself.

Satish Dhawan Space Centre Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle Sierre
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