Semi-OT: Space Bitches: M-cubed2 launched Thursday
UM Engineering collaboration with CalTech and the Jet Propulsion laboratory deployed with a bunch of other satellites on the AtlasV launch Thursday.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/12/atlas-v-launch-nrol-39-vandenberg/
Best thing ever: the mission launch patch: Cthulu triumphant
or...
December 8th, 2013 at 5:55 PM ^
The octopus logo is in reference to the spy satellite that was the primary payload. The cube satellites were secondary.
December 8th, 2013 at 6:00 PM ^
I know; the supposed main payload was a FIA Radar 3 satellite. Rumored to be able to view images at night, through clouds, bad weather. Thought it was cool that Michigan had a satellite in the secondary load.
December 8th, 2013 at 5:58 PM ^
"M-Cubed-2 is a replacement for the original M-Cubed satellite – launched as part of ELaNa III in October 2011 – which failed to return useful data after becoming magnetically attached to another satellite – the Montana State University’s Explorer-1 [Prime] Unit 2."
I think this calls for scheduling a home-and-home with Montana State to see if we can get our proverbial pound of flesh for this catastrophe.
In all seriousness though, this is pretty cool news. Thanks for sharing!
December 8th, 2013 at 6:12 PM ^
Successful decoding of telemetry beacons happened as early as 6:52am the following morning. Odd how not being hooked to a second craft with another radio makes this so much easier.
December 8th, 2013 at 6:15 PM ^
The university seems to excel in all endeavors that have super funding.
All except, well...yeah.
December 8th, 2013 at 6:17 PM ^
December 8th, 2013 at 6:19 PM ^
as I was one of them.
December 9th, 2013 at 11:17 AM ^
I've even worked on it a little bit.
December 8th, 2013 at 6:18 PM ^
M-Cubed vs. RAX vs. CAT? S3FL vs. MXL? It's great to see U-M expanding away from such an Aero focus towards more Space, but I'm having trouble keeping everyone straight!
GoBluePlasma: We have a while until the next HTTV kickstarter, so please help support Michigan's CubeSat Ambipolar Thruster (CAT)!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/longmier/cat-launch-a-water-propelled-satellite-into-deep-s
December 8th, 2013 at 7:16 PM ^
December 20th, 2013 at 9:49 AM ^