1U CubeSat developed by the University of Vigo as a technology demonstrator for the HUMSAT humanitarian communication constellation, launched November 2013.
HUMSAT-D Educational CubeSat
1U CubeSat developed by the University of Vigo as a technology demonstrator for the HUMSAT humanitarian communication constellation, launched November 2013.
Description
HUMSAT-D is a 1U CubeSat developed by the University of Vigo (Universidade de Vigo) as the technology demonstrator for the international HUMSAT constellation system designed to support humanitarian and emergency communications in remote areas. The satellite was launched on 21 November 2013 aboard a Dnepr rocket from Dombarovsky Cosmodrome as part of the Unisat-5 cluster deployment. HUMSAT-D validated the store-and-forward communication architecture for the HUMSAT network, demonstrating ultra-low-power UHF uplink reception from ground terminals and S-band downlink to ground stations. The University of Vigo also participated in the SERPENS CubeSat project in collaboration with Brazilian universities and the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), contributing to QB50 international science objectives.
Specifications
| Type | 1U CubeSat |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | 10 x 10 x 10 cm |
| Mass | ≤1.33 kg |
| Launch | 21 November 2013 |
| Launch Vehicle | Dnepr (Unisat-5 cluster) |
| Orbit | Sun-synchronous LEO, ~820 km |
| Mission | Humanitarian communications demonstration |
| Communication | UHF uplink / S-band downlink |
| Country | Spain |