| Satellite | WindCube |
|---|---|
| Spacecraft type | CubeSat |
| Units or mass | 6U |
| Status | not launched, expected in 2025 |
| Launcher | not launched |
| Organization | National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) |
| Institution | Institute |
| Entity | Government (Civil / Military) |
| Headquarters | US |
| Operator | In-house? |
| Costs | $6.5 million |
| Oneliner |
Study the influence of thermospheric winds on the Earth’s ionosphere. |
| Description |
Study the influence of thermospheric winds on the earth’s ionosphere. Its scientific payload is a limb viewing Fabry Pérot Interferometer (étalon) specially designed to fit into a 10cm x 10cm cross-sectional assembly. WindCube will make global maps of wind speed derived from the doppler shifted emission of the 630.0nm oxygen line (1D > 3P), at altitudes near 250km. Projected performance includes wind speed retrievals every 10 seconds with an accuracy of 5m/s, a vertical resolution of 63km, and a horizontal resolution of 100km. |
| Sources | [1] [2] [3] |
| Photo sources | [1] |
Last modified: 2024-05-29
