TUMnanoSAT

{{Short description|Nanosatellite and first satellite of Moldova}}

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

{{Infobox spaceflight

| name = TUMnanoSAT

| names_list =

| image =

| image_caption =

| mission_type =

| operator = Technical University of Moldova

| website = {{Official website|https://nanosat.utm.md}}

| COSPAR_ID = 1998-067UD

| SATCAT = 53464

| mission_duration = {{time interval|12 August 2022|31 January 2023}}

| spacecraft_bus =

| manufacturer = Technical University of Moldova

| dry_mass =

| launch_mass =

| power =

| launch_date = {{start-date|15 July 2022}}

| launch_rocket = Falcon 9

| launch_site = Kennedy LC-39A

| launch_contractor = SpaceX

| entered_service =

| disposal_type =

| deactivated =

| decay_date = 31 January 2023

| orbit_epoch =

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| orbit_periapsis =

| orbit_apoapsis =

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| orbit_period =

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| apsis =

| trans_band =

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| trans_capacity =

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| trans_HPBW =

}}

TUMnanoSAT was a nanosatellite and the first artificial satellite made by Moldova. It was built by the Technical University of Moldova (UTM) and was launched on 15 July 2022. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket carried TUMnanoSAT to the International Space Station (ISS). This was through the SpaceX CRS-25 Commercial Resupply Service mission. In this mission, Falcon 9 carried a SpaceX Dragon 2 spacecraft which contained the J-SSOD launch capsule of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) within which in turn was TUMnanoSAT. The satellite project and its launch was carried out in cooperation with the JAXA and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) as part of the KiboCUBE program.{{cite news|url=https://utm.md/en/blog/2022/07/15/tumnanosat-satellite-built-by-the-technical-university-of-moldova-was-launched-into-space/|title="TUMnanoSAT" satellite, built by the Technical University of Moldova, was launched into space|publisher=Technical University of Moldova|date=15 July 2022}} Once brought to the ISS, TUMnanoSAT was put into orbit from there on 12 August.{{cite news|url=https://www.moldpres.md/news/2022/08/12/22006092|title=Nanosatelitul TUMnanoSAT construit de UTM a fost lansat pe orbită|publisher=Moldpres|date=12 August 2022|language=ro}}

The main missions of TUMnanoSAT were to achieve an efficient communications system between the satellite and its ground station, to study the reliability of electronic components when exposed to space radiation, to test the satellite's system for supply of solar power to find out the most appropriate form of distributing the accumulated energy and to observe the behavior of the satellite's nanosensors and micro-wires in open space and of the sensors of the satellite's subsystem to determine and optimize the performance of the satellite.{{cite news|url=https://agora.md/stiri/105559/lansarea-tumnanosat-un-eveniment-istoric-pentru-republica-moldova|title=Lansarea TUMnanoSAT – un eveniment istoric pentru Republica Moldova|newspaper=Agora|date=29 July 2022|language=ro}}

After the launch of TUMnanoSAT on 15 July, the UTM and Moldcell organized a public lecture dedicated to the satellite's fabrication and mission attended by several children and adolescents to introduce them to the fields of innovation and technology.

TUMnanoSAT reentered the atmosphere on 31 January 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=53464|title=TUMNANOSAT|website=N2YO.com|date=31 January 2023|accessdate=15 February 2023}}