A quartet of small satellites, better known as CubeSats, flew high above California’s Mojave Desert on June 15, 2013 on a demonstration mission to study the launch environment all the way from liftoff to landing.
The spacecraft are being developed to help simplify and lower the cost of small-satellite missions that could fly on smaller, dedicated rockets. Although the rocket’s parachute deployed prematurely and the vehicle tumbled to a hard landing, the flight is considered a success and a valuable learning opportunity. Teams now are retrieving their data and gearing up for another flight in the coming months.
Watch CubeSat Demo Flight Tests Technologies
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQb7RiVDxcM]
Among the CubeSats was StangSat built by students from Merritt Island High School (MIHS). This pre-launch video briefly describes the CubeSats to be launched as well as the new light-weight CubeSat Deployer. There is also an interview with Roland Coelho WH7BE.
Watch CubeSats and Launcher to Test Satellite Innovations
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g_vlFsJr1Y]
Small Satellites Soar in High-Altitude Demonstration http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130618172614.htm
Merritt Island High School Students Build CubeSat http://amsat-uk.org/2013/04/11/merritt-island-high-students-cubesat/
MIHS CubeSat on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/MIHS-CubeSat/110920062311996