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SUNSAT

{{Short description|South African amateur radio satellite}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

The Stellenbosch UNiversity SATellite or SUNSAT (COSPAR 1999-008C) was the first miniaturized satellite designed and manufactured in South Africa.{{cite web|title=South African Satellites|url=http://atlas.sansa.org.za/atlas-sa_satellites.html|publisher=South African National Space Agency|access-date=March 18, 2023}} It was launched aboard a Delta II rocket from the Vandenberg Air Force Base on 23 February 1999 to become the first launched South African satellite. Sunsat was built by post-graduate engineering students at the University of Stellenbosch. Its AMSAT designation was SO-35 (Sunsat Oscar 35).{{cite web|url=http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/so35.html|title=SUNSAT-OSCAR 35|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051224163310/http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/so35.html|archive-date=December 24, 2005|website=amsat.org}}

Last contact by ground control with SUNSAT was on 19 January 2001 and on 1 February 2001 the end of SUNSAT's functional life in orbit was announced. The satellite operated in orbit for nearly 2 years.{{Cite web|url=https://research.ee.sun.ac.za/sunsat/news/20010201.html#en|title = The End of SUNSAT's Functional Life in Orbit|date=1 February 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050414090039/http://esl.ee.sun.ac.za/projects/sunsat/news/20010201.html|archive-date=14 April 2005}}

It is predicted to reenter the atmosphere after about 30 years from launch.[https://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/so35-faq.htm#life 19. How long will SUNSAT stay operational?], SUNSAT(SO-35) FAQ

Specifications

SUNSAT satellite specifications:{{cite web|title=SUNSAT (Stellenbosch University Satellite)|date=Jun 14, 2012|url=https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/sunsat#rf-communications|website=eoportal.org|access-date=March 18, 2023}}

  • Size: 45 x 45 x 60 cm
  • Mass: 64 kg
  • Launcher: Delta II rocket, Mission P-91{{cite web|title=Delta II 7920-10 (P91-1ARGOS), Ørsted and SUNSAT|url=https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/1627|website=nextspaceflight.com|access-date=March 18, 2023}}
  • Program cost: US $5M (Approximate); the launch was free of charge as SUNSAT was orbited as a secondary payload. The primary payload of the launch was ARGOS, and the Danish Orsted satellite was another secondary payload.
  • Planned lifetime: 4–5 years (NiCad Battery pack life)
  • Main payloads:
  • Amateur radio communications
  • Data interchange
  • Stereo multispectral imager
  • Attitude control: Gravity gradient and magnetorquers, reaction wheels when imaging
  • Accuracy: 3 mrad pitch/roll, 6 mrad yaw
  • 2 Micro Particle Impact Detectors were included as part of experiments conducted in orbit
  • A team (Zaahied Cassim and Rashid Mohamed) from Peninsula Technikon designed and built circuits for both their own piezo film technology and NASA supplied capacitive sensors.
  • SSC 25636{{cite web|url=http://www.heavens-above.com/orbit.aspx?satid=25636|title=SUNSAT - Orbit|first=Chris|last=Peat|work=Heavens Above|date=5 December 2013|accessdate=6 December 2013}}

=Pushboom imager=

  • Ground pixel size: 15 m x 15 m
  • Image width: 51.8 km

References

{{reflist}}

{{Portal|Spaceflight}}

{{South African Space Program}}

{{Stellenbosch University}}

{{OSCAR satellites}}

{{Orbital launches in 1999}}

Category:Stellenbosch University

Category:Amateur radio satellites

Category:Spacecraft launched in 1999

Category:Spacecraft launched by Delta II rockets

Category:First artificial satellites of a country

Category:Space program of South Africa

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