ALMASat-1
| Company type | Microsatellite |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | University of Bologna |
| Headquarters | Bologna , Italy |
| Products | Earth observation technologies, attitude control system demonstration |
ALMASat-1 (short for ALma MAter SATellite) was a microsatellite weighing 12.5 kg, created by the University of Bologna to demonstrate Earth observation technologies. Supported financially by the Italian Ministry of Research, its primary goal was to evaluate 3-axis attitude control precision for future spacecraft.
About the satellite
Built using premium aluminium combined with eight stainless steel structural supports, ALMASat-1 was equipped with solar panels on four faces to supply its power requirements. Its box-shaped structure was designed to host payloads with diverse dimensions and energy demands.
Mission
The project commenced in 2003, originally planning a launch via the Dnepr rocket; however, it eventually flew on the Vega launcher alongside other payloads. The mission’s objective was to verify the performance of attitude control systems essential for forthcoming space endeavors.
Launch
On 13 February 2012, ALMASat-1 was deployed from Kourou, French Guiana, utilizing Arianespace’s Vega launch vehicle.
Re-entry
After fulfilling its mission goals, the satellite re-entered Earth's atmosphere and decayed from low Earth orbit on 25 April 2020.