Flock-1
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (December 2015) |
Mission type | Earth imaging |
---|---|
Operator | Planet Labs |
Website | www.planet.com/flock1/ |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft type | CubeSat |
Bus | Dove |
Launch mass | 5 kg (11 lb) |
Dimensions | 10 cm × 10 cm × 30 cm (3.9 in × 3.9 in × 11.8 in) (3U) |
Power | 20 watts |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
Regime | Low Earth orbit |
Inclination | 51.66° |
Flock-1 is a CubeSat satellite constellation launched on 9 January 2014. The satellite is built in a CubeSat bus, and each constellation consists of 28 satellites. All instruments are powered by solar cells mounted on the spacecraft body, along with triple-folded wings, providing approximately 20 watts at maximal power.
Launch
Flock-1 constellation was launched from Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Launch Pad 0, Wallops Island, on 9 January 2014 by an Antares 120 rocket. The satellites were deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) from 11 February 2014 to 28 February 2014.[1]
Another Flock start in January 2015 on a Falcon 9 launch vehicle.
Mission
The satellite is intended for commercial Earth observation service. For this purpose, each satellite is equipped with a camera capable of 3 to 5 m (9.8 to 16.4 ft) ground resolution. Details of intended service by individual satellites were never released publicly and are largely unknown.
References
- ^ "Flock-1, -1b, -1c, -1d, -1d', -1e, -1f, -2b, -2e, -2e', -2k, -2p, -3m, -3p, -3p', -3r, -3s, -4a, -4e, -4e', -4p, -4s, -4v, -4x".
External links
- Flock-1 Archived 30 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine