Mission Objectives:
- Human capacity development (student training)
- Ionospheric propagation studies
- Technology demonstration
Current Status:
updated 2016-04-11
- UHF Beacon: On
- UHF Beacon interval: ~55 seconds
- UHF Transmit power: 1 W
- UHF Beacon message: I made it! 2 years!
- Frequency, Rate and Modulation: UHF 9k6 G3RUH/GMSK
- Mission phase: Alternative operations
- Satellite TX frequency: 437.355 MHz (Downlink)
- Satellite HF payload beacon transmitter frequency: 14.099 MHz
- HF Beacon: Off
- HF Transmit power: 200 mW
- HF Beacon Type: CW
Telemetry feedback can be sent to: fsatispace@gmail.com
Up-to-date information on Twitter
* Beacon state could differ depending on on-board battery charge state.
Spacecraft
The satellite makes use of the CubeSat form factor and contains a mix of in-house developed and commercial-of-the-self components. Components where sourced from Clyde Space and Innovative Solutions In Space. ZACUBE-1 is South Africa’s first launched CubeSat and third Satellite (ZA-003).
The UHF/VHF transceiver used on ZACUBE-1 was developed and built in-house at F’SATI/CPUT and is still functioning nominally after more than two years on orbit. This transceiver served as the base design for the CMC UHF/VHF transceiver which is now commercially available.
Payload
- High-Frequency (HF) beacon transmitter
- Low resolution CMOS imager
Details
- Satellite name: ZACUBE-1 (TshepisoSat)
- Satellite Catalog ID: 39417
- International Designator: 2013-066B
- Transceiver modulation and data rates: UHF AX.25 1200 bps AFSK and 9600 bps GMSK. HF payload in CW.
- Satellite antenna polarization: Linear
- Satellite transceiver manufacturer: CPUT/F’SATI
Launch
ZACUBE-1 was successfully launched on 21 November 2013 at 07:10:10.147 UTC from Yasny, Russia aboard a DNEPR launch vehicle as part of the ISILAUNCH03 Mission.
ZACUBE-1 integration with ISIPOD launch adapter in Delft, Netherlands during the launch campaign:
Tracking
Up-to-date Two Line Elements for ZACUBE-1 can be found on CeleStrak, under “ZACUBE-1 (TSHEPISOSAT)” (CelesTrak – cubesat)
More detailed information can be found on the Tracking page.
Images
Image captured on 2016-02-22
ZACUBE-1 in the media
South Africa to launch first cube satellite – SouthAfrica.info
SA university gears up for satellite launch – News24.com
SA’s first nano-satellite will be able to monitor space ‘weather’ – Business Day
Nanosatellite readies for blast-off – defenceWeb
ZACUBE-1 launch makes history – CPUT
SA could lead on micro satellites, says Sansa – News24.com
Russia’s Dnepr launches South Africa’s ZACUBE-1 into space – TimesLive
Successful launch of Tshepiso Sat – SANSA
SA se nanosatelliet op koers – Die Burger
Infinity and beyond: the global rebirth of outer space – Daily Maverick
Picasso and Einstein in the sky – Cape Times
Developing nations must be part of space race, says astronaut – Mail and Guardian
ESPACE – Un satellite du French South African institute of technology dans l’espace – Lepetitjournal
Diary of a Nanosatellite (2013) – Liza Grobler
AISI salutes F’SATI’s Cubesat achievement – AISI
One Year on orbit!
SA nanosatellite survives one year in space – fin24
SA se nanosatelliet vaar goed – SciBraai
TshepisoSAT – One Year, 250 million kilometres – Server Observer
South Africa’s nanosatellite: one year, 250 million kilometres – EIN Newsdesk
SA’S nanosatellite leads space race one year on – Oudtshoorn Courant
SA’S nanosatellite leads space race one year on – George Herald
SA’S nanosatellite leads space race one year on – Knysna-Plett Herald
SA’S nanosatellite leads space race one year on – Suid-Kaap Forum
SA se nanosatelliet vaar goed – Netwerk24
South Africa’s nanosatellite: one year, 250 million kilometres – MyBroadband
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