TUGSAT-1
{{Short description|Austrian satellite part of the BRITE constellation}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = TUGSAT-1
| image =
| image_caption =
| mission_type = Astronomy
| operator = Graz University of Technology
| website =
| COSPAR_ID = 2013-009F
| SATCAT = 39091
| mission_duration = Elapsed: {{time interval|February 25, 2013, 12:31:00|show=ymd|sep=,}}
| spacecraft_bus = GNB
| manufacturer = University of Toronto
| dry_mass =
| launch_mass = {{convert|7|kg}}
| power =
| launch_date = {{start-date|25 February 2013, 12:31|timezone=yes}} UTC
| launch_rocket = PSLV-CA C20
| launch_site = Satish Dhawan FLP
| launch_contractor = ISRO
UTIAS
| disposal_type =
| deactivated =
| last_contact =
| decay_date =
| orbit_epoch = 8 November 2013, 11:26:32 UTC{{cite web|url=http://www.heavens-above.com/orbit.aspx?satid=39091|title=CANX 3B (BRITE-ASRA) - Orbit|first=Chris|last=Peat|work=Heavens Above|date=8 November 2013|accessdate=9 November 2013}}
| orbit_reference = Geocentric
| orbit_regime = Low Earth
| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|776|km|mi}}
| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|790|km|mi}}
| orbit_inclination = 98.62 degrees
| orbit_period = 100.37 minutes
| apsis = gee
}}
TUGSAT-1, also known as BRITE-Austria and CanX-3B, is the first Austrian satellite. It is an optical astronomy spacecraft operated by the Graz University of Technology as part of the international BRIght-star Target Explorer programme.
Details
TUGSAT-1 was manufactured by the University of Toronto based on the Generic Nanosatellite Bus, and had a mass at launch of {{convert|7|kg}}{{cite web|url=http://www.isro.org/pslv-c20/pdf/brochure.pdf|title=PSLV-C20/SARAL Mission|publisher=Indian Space Research Organisation|accessdate=26 February 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006141556/http://www.isro.org/pslv-c20/pdf/brochure.pdf|archivedate=6 October 2014}} (plus another 7 kg for the XPOD separation system). The spacecraft is cube-shaped, with each side measuring {{convert|20|cm}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.tugsat.tugraz.at/tugsat-1|title=System Overview|work=TUGSAT Web Portal|publisher=Graz University of Technology|accessdate=26 February 2013}} The satellite will be used, along with five other spacecraft, to conduct photometric observations of stars with apparent magnitude of greater than 4.0 as seen from Earth.{{cite web|url=http://www.univie.ac.at/brite-constellation/html/science_goals.html|title=Science Goals|publisher=BRITE Executive Science Team|accessdate=26 February 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019172338/http://www.univie.ac.at/brite-constellation/html/science_goals.html|archivedate=19 October 2013}} TUGSAT-1 was one of the first two BRITE satellites to be launched, along with the Austro-Canadian UniBRITE-1 spacecraft. Four more satellites, two Canadian and two Polish, were launched at later dates.
Launch
The TUGSAT-1 spacecraft was launched through the University of Toronto's Nanosatellite Launch System programme, as part of the NLS-8 launch, along with UniBRITE-1 and AAUSAT3.{{cite web|url=https://www.utias-sfl.net/NLS-8/?page_id=2|title=About NLS-8|publisher=UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory|accessdate=26 February 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502003754/https://www.utias-sfl.net/NLS-8/?page_id=2|archivedate=2 May 2014}} The NLS-8 launch was subcontracted to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), who placed the satellites into orbit using a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in the PSLV-CA configuration, flying from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.{{cite web|url=https://www.utias-sfl.net/NLS-8/?p=136|title=PSLV-C20 on FLP|publisher=UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory|date=21 February 2013|accessdate=26 February 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502003410/https://www.utias-sfl.net/NLS-8/?p=136|archivedate=2 May 2014}} The NLS spacecraft were secondary payloads on the rocket, whose primary mission was to deploy the Franco-Indian SARAL ocean research satellite. Canada's Sapphire and NEOSSat-1 spacecraft, and the United Kingdom's STRaND-1, were also carried by the same rocket under separate launch contracts. The launch took place at 12:31 UTC on 25 February 2013, and the rocket deployed all of its payloads successfully.{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1302/25pslv/|title=Ocean monitor, smartphone satellite launched from India|first=Stephen|last=Clark|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=25 February 2013|accessdate=26 February 2013}}
See also
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
{{Clear}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Orbital launches in 2013}}
{{BRITE}}
Category:Spacecraft launched in 2013
Category:Satellites of Austria
Category:First artificial satellites of a country
Category:Space program of Austria