UWE-2 (University Würzburg's Experimental satellite 2) was a follow-on picosatellite technology demonstration project within the CubeSat family standard, developed and built by students of the University of Würzburg, Germany. The overall objective is to demonstrate the capabilities of attitude determination and control in picosatellites.[1]

UWE-2
UWE-2 satellite
NamesUniversität Würzburg's Experimentalsatellit-2
Mission typeTechnology demonstration
OperatorUniversity of Würzburg
COSPAR ID2009-051D Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.35934
Mission duration12 months (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeCubeSat
Bus1U CubeSat
ManufacturerUniversity of Würzburg
Launch mass1 kg (2.2 lb)
Dimensions10 × 10 × 10 cm (3.9 × 3.9 × 3.9 in)
Power2 watts
Start of mission
Launch date23 September 2009,
06:21 UTC
RocketPolar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C14
Launch siteSatish Dhawan Space Centre, First Launch Pad (FLP)
ContractorIndian Space Research Organisation
Entered service23 September 2009
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeSun-synchronous orbit
Altitude720 km (450 mi)
Inclination98.28°
Period99.31 minutes
UWE satellite Series
← UWE-1
UWE-3 →

Mission

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Integration of UWE-2 in the cleanroom

Developed by the University of Würzburg, its scientific objectives are:

  • tests of methods and algorithms for attitude determination
  • optimisation of internet protocol parameters, in order to adapt to the specific space environment.

Launch

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On 23 September 2009, at 06:21 UTC, UWE-2 was launched by a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) launch vehicle (PSLV-C14) together with Oceansat-2 and three further CubeSats in a polar orbit at 720 km altitude. Successful operations could be initiated. Use of SPL (Single Picosatellite Launcher) of Astro und Feinwerktechnik Adlershof GmbH (Berlin), Germany, for the deployment of the CubeSats.[1]

UWE-2 followed the earlier UWE-1. UWE-3 is also planned.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "UWE-2 (Universität Würzburg's Experimentalsatellit-2)". ESA eoPortal Directory. 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
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