UniCubeSat-GG
UniCubeSat-GG (Gravity Gradient) is a 1U CubeSat developed and built at the School of Aerospace Engineering.
Characteristics
CubeSat shaped satellite with external dimensions of 10 cm x 10 cm x 13.5 cm, mass of 1kg
Structure in aluminium
Off the shelf electronic subsystems (COTS)
Power: triple junction solar cells generated and Lithium Polymer batteries and EPS board
(Electric Power Subsystem) by ClydeSpace
OBDH On Board Data Handling and Communications subsystem
Attitude control: Spin + two magnetorquers for magnetic control
Passive TCS (Thermal Control Subsystem)
S/C communications according to radio amateur standards in UHF band (437.305 MHz) using a COTS radio and deployable antenna
VEGA Maiden flight CubeSat orbit
Mission Objectives and Payload
Provide hands-on education for students
Reduce the satellite mass from of the UNISAT series to 1 kg (CubeSat series)
Study of the gravity gradient (through a boom)
Attitude measurements and telemetry
Two deployable booms equipped with solar panels
Experiments: mainly in orbit test of the gravity gradient attitude stabilization system
Educational payloads
Two magnetometers
Launch
UniCubeSat satellite was successfully launched on February 13, 2012 as a secondary payload on the maiden flight of the Vega launch vehicle of ASI and ESA from Kourou spaceport in French Guiana. The launch opportunity was offered by ESA Education Office.
In the multiple payload launch there were nine small satellites including seven ESA- sponsored CubeSats built by teams of European University students. The primary payload was the Italian scientific satellite LARES (LAser RElativity Satellite, of 400 kg), the other satellites onboard Vega LV with LARES were ALMASat 1, e-st@r, Goliat, MaSat 1, PW-Sat1, ROBUSTA, XaTcobeo, LARES-A&H/SS.
UniCubeSat-GG transmitted data for a period of time. The dedicated team at Rome ground station received the spacecraft’s signals shortly after the launch.