CP6 (satellite)

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

CP6 (also known as CP6 CubeSat, CalPoly CP-6, PolySat-6, or PolySat CP6) is a small, 1U CubeSat built and operated by California Polytechnic State University. Its main goal was to demonstrate technology, especially attitude-determination sensors, with cameras used to verify the sensor data. CP6 was originally a backup to CP3, but after CP3’s radio problems, CP6 was modified to carry out its own mission.

In addition to attitude sensing, CP6 tested a system to collect electrons from the surrounding space for the Naval Research Laboratory, a study aimed at electrodynamic propulsion that could let spacecraft maneuver without using traditional fuel. The electron emitter and two collectors sit on long rolled-up tapes and deploy after the main mission, operating for about 3–6 months. Mission data were sent back to ground stations at Cal Poly and NRL.

Launch and orbit: CP6 was launched on May 19, 2009, aboard an Orbital Sciences Minotaur I rocket from Pad 0B at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. It rode as a tertiary payload with TacSat-3 and PharmaSat, along with AeroCube-3 and HawkSat-1 on the same rocket. The satellite is a 1 kg, 10 cm cube, solar-powered, operating in low Earth orbit at roughly 426–466 km altitude with an inclination of about 40.46° and an orbital period of about 93.5 minutes.

End of mission: CP6 reentered the Earth's atmosphere on October 6, 2011.