RaInCube
 | |
| Names | RainCube |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Technology demonstration |
| Operator | NASA/JPL |
| COSPAR ID | 1998-067NW[1] |
| SATCAT no. | 43548[1] |
| Website | Website |
| Mission duration | 2 years, 5 months and 10 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | 6U CubeSat |
| Manufacturer | NASA/JPL |
| Launch mass | 12kg |
| Dimensions | 10 × 20 × 30 cm (3.9 × 7.9 × 11.8 in) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | May 21, 2018, 08:44:06 UTC[2] |
| Rocket | Antares 230 |
| Launch site | Wallops Pad 0A |
| Contractor | Orbital ATK |
| Deployed from | International Space Station |
| Deployment date | July 13, 2018[3] |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Reentry |
| Decay date | Dec. 24, 2020 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 399 km (248 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 407 km (253 mi) |
| Inclination | 51.64° |
| Transponders | |
| Band | Ka band |
| Instruments | |
| Ka band radar | |
RaInCube, also stylized as RainCube, was a 6U CubeSat made by NASA as an experimental satellite. It had a small radar and an antenna. It was put into orbit in May 2018 and was deployed from the International Space Station on June 25, 2018. It re-entered Earth's atmosphere and burned up on Dec. 24, 2020.[4][5] It was used to track large storms.[6]
Mission objectives
RainCube's mission objectives were to:[7][4]
- Demonstrate low-cost Ka band radar technology, with a vertical resolution of 250m and a horizontal resolution of at least 10 km. Its radar sensitivity should also be better than 20dBZ.
- Use Ka-band radar from a 6U CubeSat
- Profiling precipitation falling on Earth
Launch and deployment
RaInCube was launched as part of the Cygnus OA-9E Commercial Resupply Services mission on board an Antares 230 rocket on May 21, 2018, at Wallops Pad 0A. The Cygnus spacecraft docked with the International Space Station on May 24, 2018, three days later. RaInCube was finally deployed from the International Space Station on July 13, 2018.[3][2][8]
Gallery
Render of RaInCube
RaInCube on Earth
RaInCube's interior
RaInCube's antenna opening
References
- ^ a b "Technical details for satellite RAINCUBE". N2YO.com - Real Time Satellite Tracking and Predictions. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
- ^ a b Clark, Stephen. "Antares rocket launch kicks off space station's next commercial cargo delivery – Spaceflight Now". Retrieved 2021-12-17.
- ^ a b "RainCube". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
- ^ a b "JPL | CubeSat | RainCube". www.jpl.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
- ^ "A Pioneering NASA Mini Weather Satellite Ends Its Mission". www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/a-pioneering-nasa-mini-weather-satellite-ends-its-mission. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
- ^ "NASA Tests Tiny Satellites to Track Global Storms". NASA/JPL. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
- ^ "RaInCube - eoPortal Directory - Satellite Missions". directory.eoportal.org. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
- ^ "OA-9 Cygnus cargo ship arrives at ISS". SpaceFlight Insider. 2018-05-24. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
