IceCube (spacecraft)
{{short description|Nanosatellite}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = IceCube
| names_list = Earth-1
| image = NanoRacks CubeSat deployer deploying CXBN-2 and IceCube.jpg
| image_caption = Deployment of IceCube and CXBN-2 from the International Space Station (ISS)
| image_alt = Deployment of IceCube
| mission_type = Technology demonstration
| operator = NASA Goddard Space Center
| COSPAR_ID = 1998-067LN{{Cite web|title=IceCube (Earth 1)|url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/icecube.htm|access-date=2021-12-06|website=Gunter's Space Page|language=en}}
| mission_duration = {{time interval|May 16, 2017|October 3, 2018|show=ymd}}
| spacecraft_type = CubeSat
| manufacturer = NASA
| dry_mass = {{convert|4|kg}}
| dimensions = 10cm x 10cm x 30cm
| launch_date = {{start date|2017|04|18}}
| launch_rocket = Atlas V 401
| launch_site = Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41
| launch_contractor = United Launch Alliance
| deployment_from = International Space Station (ISS)
| deployment_date = {{start date|2017|05|16}}
| disposal_type = Re-entry
| decay_date = October 3, 2018
| orbit_reference = Geocentric
| orbit_regime = Low Earth
| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|401|km}}
| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|404|km}}
| orbit_inclination = 51.64°
| instruments = 883 GHz radiometer
}}
IceCube, also known as Earth-1,{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/nasas-icecube-no-longer-on-ice|title=IceCube Satellite No Longer On Ice|last=Garner|first=Rob|date=2015-07-21|website=NASA|access-date=2019-08-06}} was a 3U CubeSat satellite{{Cite web|url=https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4063&context=smallsat|title=NASA IceCube: CubeSat Demonstration of a Commercial 883-GHz Cloud Radiometer|last=|first=|date=|website=digitalcommons.usu.edu|access-date=17 June 2019}} funded and developed by NASA.{{Cite web|url=https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal/satellite-missions/i/icecube|title=IceCube - Satellite Missions - eoPortal Directory|website=directory.eoportal.org|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-17}}{{Cite web|url=https://atmospheres.gsfc.nasa.gov/climate/index.php?section=259|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426223323/https://atmospheres.gsfc.nasa.gov/climate/index.php?section=259|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-04-26|title=IceCube|last=Oreopoulos|first=Lazaros|website=atmospheres.gsfc.nasa.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-06-17}} Its goal was to demonstrate and map ice clouds through the use of its 883 GHz radiometer.
Objectives
IceCube was built to map ice clouds globally. It had a submillimeter radiometer to overcome the limitation of ice particles in clouds being opaque in the infrared and visible spectrums.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2018/tiny-satellites-first-global-map-of-ice-clouds|title=Tiny Satellite's First Global Map of Ice Clouds|last=Blumberg|first=Sara|date=2018-05-14|website=NASA|access-date=2019-06-17}} It was made to demonstrate a 833-gigahertz submillimeter-wave receiver as part of a technology demonstration mission.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2018/nasa-s-small-spacecraft-produces-first-883-gigahertz-global-ice-cloud-map|title=NASA's Small Spacecraft Makes 1st 883-Gigahertz Global Ice-Cloud Map|last=Jenner|first=Lynn|date=2018-01-30|website=NASA|access-date=2019-08-06}}
Design
IceCube was a Sun-pointing spin-stabilized 3U CubeSat with two solar panel arrays. In its compact form, it occupied a volume of 10 x 10 x 30cm.{{Cite web|title=IceCube {{!}} Earth|url=https://earth.gsfc.nasa.gov/climate/missions/icecube|access-date=2021-12-06|website=earth.gsfc.nasa.gov}}
Instruments
Launch and mission
{{main article|Cygnus OA-7}}
File:Launch of Atlas V with Cygnus OA-7 (KSC-20170418-PH AWG02 0020, cropped).jpg]]
Cygnus OA-7 launched on April 18, 2017 as the seventh flight of the Cygnus spacecraft to the ISS as under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services program.{{Cite web|title=Launch Log (2017-2018) – Spaceflight Now|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-log-2017-2018/|access-date=2021-12-06|language=en-US}} The Cygnus spacecraft docked with the ISS on April 2, 2017.{{Cite web|date=2017-04-22|title=S.S. John Glenn OA-7 Cygnus berthed to ISS|url=https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/iss/s-s-john-glenn-oa-7-cygnus-berthed-to-iss/|access-date=2021-12-06|website=SpaceFlight Insider|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-12-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206113259/https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/iss/s-s-john-glenn-oa-7-cygnus-berthed-to-iss/|url-status=dead}}
IceCube was deployed from the ISS via the Nanoracks CubeSat Deployer along with several other CubeSats on May 16, 2017.{{Cite web|date=2017-05-17|title=CubeSat Deployer Mission 11 Status Update: Good Deploy!|url=https://nanoracks.com/cubesat-deployer-mission-11-update/|access-date=2021-12-06|website=Nanoracks|language=en-US}} It re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on October 3, 2018, ending its mission.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
Category:Satellites deployed from the International Space Station
{{orbital launches in 2017}}