UNISAT-1

The first UNISAT (University Satellite) was created by the GAUSS Group of Astrodynamics of the School of Aerospace Engineering of Sapienza University of Rome, composed by University professors, researchers and students of the School and the faculty of Aerospace Engineering.


Characteristics

  • First European University Satellite

  • Part of the first Cluster Launch with the DNEPR

  • Shape of an octagonal prism, with size 15 x 25 cm and a weight of 12kg

  • Modular microsatellite hosting scientific payloads: sensors for debris, magnetometer and

  • camera

  • Power subsystems: Solar cells – NiMh Batteries (both experiments)

  • Telecommunications: UHF uplink and VHF downlink, communicating with the ground

  • station

  • OBC: a distributed computing system

  • Low cost: reduced dimensions, short time to be launched, use of COTS subsystems.


Mission Objectives

  • Space education and applied research: providing training to students (of aerospace

  • engineering but not only) through a direct and qualifying involvement and increase their

  • scientific achievements (preparation of thesis and papers, learning by doing)

  • Testing technology in Space environment: the innovation is that small payloads can be

  • placed in orbit

  • Enhance Academic and Industry cooperation.


Launch

UniSat spacecraft was successfully launched the 26 September 2000 from the Cosmodrome of Baikonur Kazakhstan) onboard the DNEPR Launch Vehicle operated by the Company ISC Kosmotras, together with other 4 microsatellites (MegSat of Italy, TiungSat1 of Malaysia, SaudiSat-1 and 1B of the Saudi Institute for Space Research).

UniSat was injected on a circular orbit at 650 km of height and 65° of inclination. The launch of UniSat is the first of a successful series and made Sapienza University of Rome the first Italian University and one of the first in the world to have launched in Space a satellite managed by students. Hence, Microsatellites culture made its way and the concept that microsat missions can be preparatory to more complicated ones started taking roots.