UNOSAT (satellite)

Not to be confused with UNOSAT.

UNOSAT was a Brazilian scientific applications nanosatellite, designed, developed, built and tested by researchers and students working at the Northern Paraná University.

Mission type	Earth orbiter
Operator	INPE
COSPAR ID	2003-E01
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer	Northern Paraná University
Launch mass	8.83 kilograms (19 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	August 25, 2003 (planned) August 23, 2003 (2003-08-23Z) (Accident of Alcântara
Rocket	VLS-1 V03
Launch site	Alcântara VLS Pad
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth
Eccentricity	0
Perigee altitude	750 kilometres (470 mi)
Apogee altitude	750 kilometres (470 mi)
Inclination	16°
Period	100 minutes
Epoch	Planned

Features

The primary objective of UNOSAT was to transmit voice messages and a telemetry data packet in AX25 protocol.

The UNOSAT scientific satellite had the following characteristics:^[1]

General

• Format: parallelepiped with 46 cm x 25 cm x 8.5 cm
• Mass: 8.83 kilograms (19.5 lb)
• Orbit: heliosynchronous
• Stabilization: by rotation at 120 rpm
• Precision: 1 degree
• Altitude: 750 kilometers (470 mi)

Payload

The instrumentation shipped in UNOSAT was basically composed of: data collectors and transmitters.

The following data would be transmitted to earth:

• Voice message identifying the satellite
• Telemetry
• Temperature of solar panels
• Rechargeable battery temperatures
• Temperature of the transmitter and the on-board computer
• Battery voltage
• Centripetal acceleration

Mission

As UNOSAT was planned to be launched as a secondary payload along with the SATEC satellite and it would be impossible for the launcher to put them into distinct orbits, both satellites were mechanically connected, although there was electrical and telemetry autonomy between the two. That satellite was lost in the explosion of the VLS-1 V03 launch vehicle on August 23, 2003 in an explosion three days before the launch date. This event came to be known as accident of Alcantara.