Flock-1

{{Short description|Planet Labs' Earth observation satellite constellation}}

{{Infobox spaceflight

| name = Flock-1

| image =

thumb

| image_caption =

| image_size = 290px

| mission_type = Earth imaging

| operator = Planet Labs

| COSPAR_ID =

| SATCAT =

| website = {{url|http://www.planet.com/flock1/}}

| mission_duration =

| spacecraft_type = CubeSat

| spacecraft_bus = Dove

| launch_mass = {{cvt|5|kg}}

| dimensions = {{cvt|10|x|10|x|30|cm|disp=br()}} (3U)

| power = 20 watts

| launch_date =

| launch_rocket =

| launch_site =

| launch_contractor =

| deployment_from = ISS

| deployment_date =

| decay_date =

| orbit_reference = Geocentric orbit

| orbit_regime = Low Earth orbit

| orbit_periapsis =

| orbit_apoapsis =

| orbit_inclination = 51.66°

| orbit_period =

| apsis = gee

}}

Flock-1 is a CubeSat satellite constellation launched on 9 January 2014. The satellite is built in a CubeSat bus, and each constellation consists of 28 satellites.

All instruments are powered by solar cells mounted on the spacecraft body, along with triple-folded wings, providing approximately 20 watts at maximal power.

Launch

Flock-1 constellation was launched from Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Launch Pad 0, Wallops Island, on 9 January 2014 by an Antares 120 rocket. The satellites were deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) from 11 February 2014 to 28 February 2014.{{Cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/flock-1.htm|title = Flock-1, -1b, -1c, -1d, -1d', -1e, -1f, -2b, -2e, -2e', -2k, -2p, -3m, -3p, -3p', -3r, -3s, -4a, -4e, -4e', -4p, -4s, -4v, -4x}}

Another Flock start in January 2015 on a Falcon 9 launch vehicle.

Mission

The satellite is intended for commercial Earth observation service. For this purpose, each satellite is equipped with a camera capable of {{cvt|3|to|5|m}} ground resolution. Details of intended service by individual satellites were never released publicly and are largely unknown.

References

External links

[https://www.planet.com/flock1/ Flock-1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430025341/https://www.planet.com/flock1/ |date=30 April 2016 }}

Category:Spacecraft launched in 2014

Category:Commercial imaging satellites of the United States

Category:CubeSats

Category:Satellites deployed from the International Space Station