Cordoba

1996 August 29

05:22 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.

• Microsat - . Payload: Victor. Mass: 32 kg (70 lb). Nation: Argentina. Agency: Cordoba. Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere satellite. Spacecraft: MuSat. Decay Date: 1999-11-12 . USAF Sat Cat: 24291 . COSPAR: 1996-050A. Apogee: 19,176 km (11,915 mi). Perigee: 804 km (499 mi). Inclination: 62.80 deg. Period: 94.70 min.

  MuSat-1 Victor separated from the launch vehicle at 05:31 GMT, becoming the first Argentine-built satellite. Measuring 340 x 340 x 450mm."Victor " was an experimental vehicle, intended to evaluate in-orbit behaviour of low-cost space technologies. It carried two video cameras, oriented for earth-imaging, as well as transceivers in both UHF and S bands. The beacon could be heard every 90 seconds at 137.95 MHz as a brief burst of CW ("Hi hi de MUSAT"). Electrical power was provided by four 88-Si cells solar panels, with an end-of-life electrical power of 8 W. Its position was determined by means of a 3-axis, flux-gate magnetometer, as well as both solar and horizon sensors, while its attitude was 3-axis controlled by magnetic coils and reaction wheels, with a pointing precision of 0.5 deg. MuSat-1 was developed and built by a 25-person team at the Instituto Universitario Aeronautico, under the sponsorship of the government of the province of Cordoba, in a 3.5 year, $1.2 million effort.