Veery v0.3 Ectobius is the first in Care Weather‘s fledgling series of weather satellite precursors.
This smallsat will test a high-voltage radar power system
According to the company, this is the smallest satellite radar ever placed into orbit. Plus, onboard, there is an amateur radio payload.
For this mission, Care Weather partnered with the BYU Spacecraft Club as the lead operator of the amateur radio payload and they will coordinate the sharing of radio access details and data.
This 1.3 kg satellite features 10W of instantaneous power, 4W of solar power, a 3.2A-hr battery capacity, a 10 kbps data rate, 1000 MHz processor and is expected to have 3 years of orbital life. The mission duration is for two months.
The Ectobius launched on the SpaceX Transporter 10 mission and deployed its antenna and commissioned its radio, pointing sensors, and actuators. Ectobius’ tests include fully radio data rate stress testing and radar detection of the Earth.
Ectobius will also be available to amateur radio operators to use as a mailbox, digipeater, and telemetering station for the study of cubesat thermals. The satellite was built by Alex Laraway and Patrick Walton.