Sparkie (satellite)

Sparkie^[2] (or 3CS-1) was a satellite, part of the Three Corner Satellite (3CS) project, a three satellite (Sparkie, Ralphie and Petey) student research project. It was designed and built by mostly undergraduate students at the Arizona State University as part of the Air Force Research Laboratory's University Nanosat Program.^[3]

Sparkie

Mission type	Technology
Operator	ASU AFRL STP
Mission duration	Failed to orbit
Spacecraft properties
Launch mass	16 kilograms (35 lb)
Dimensions	46 x 30cm (six-sided)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date	December 21, 2004 (2004-12-21)
Rocket	Delta IV Heavy
Launch site	Cape Canaveral SLC-37B
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth
Epoch	Planned

Sparky was responsible for structure, power and the attitude system in the 3CS project.

Satellite carries the name of Arizona State University's mascot, Sparky.

Sparky was launched on the first launch of the Delta IV Heavy rocket configuration, along with the Ralphie satellite, but both satellites failed to achieve orbit due to a problem with the rocket during launch.^[4]

See also

• Petey (satellite)
• Ralphie (satellite)