38078 - ALMASAT-1

ALMASAT-1 (ALMA MATER SATELLITE) was launched from Kourou on 2012 February 13 at 10:00 UT. The satellite was launched by the new European launch vehicle Vega and was its second largest payload. The technology microsatellite demonstrator was developed by the University of Bologne and weighed 12.5 kg. The 30-centimeter cube is a modular structure that can be utilized for technology demonstrations in Earth Orbit or Earth Observation Missions. ALMASAT-1 will have a short mission duration and will deorbit within 25 years after launch.

The initial orbital parameters were period = 102.52 minutes, apogee = 1,440.3 km, perigee = 315.5 km, inclination = 69.5 degrees on 2012 Feb 20 at 11:17:55 UTC.

Alternate Names

ALma MAter SATellite 1

Facts in Brief

Launch Date: 2012-02-13
Launch Vehicle: Vega
Launch Site: Kourou, French Guiana
Mass: 12.5 kg