# AAU CubeSat

> 27846

**Wikidata**: [Q4649958](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4649958)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AAU_CubeSat)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/aau-cubesat

## Summary
The AAU CubeSat is a 1U CubeSat launched on June 30, 2003, aboard a Rokot rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. Developed as a student project by Aalborg University in Denmark, it was one of the earliest CubeSats to demonstrate the feasibility of low-cost, educational satellite missions. Its primary purpose was to test satellite systems and technologies in space.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: June 30, 2003
- **Launch Vehicle**: Rokot (Russian launch vehicle)
- **Launch Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 133
- **COSPAR ID**: 2003-031G
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 27846
- **Class**: 1U CubeSat (10cm × 10cm × 10cm)
- **Developers**: Students at Aalborg University, Denmark
- **Mission Objective**: Technology demonstration and educational project

## FAQs
### Q: When and how was the AAU CubeSat launched?
A: The AAU CubeSat launched on June 30, 2003, aboard a Rokot rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia.

### Q: What was the purpose of the AAU CubeSat?
A: It was designed as a technology demonstrator and educational project to test satellite systems in space, led by students from Aalborg University.

### Q: Is the AAU CubeSat still operational?
A: The satellite is no longer operational, having decayed from orbit after completing its mission.

## Why It Matters
The AAU CubeSat holds significance as one of the pioneering CubeSats launched in the early 2000s, showcasing the potential of miniaturized satellites for educational and technological research. As a student-led project, it demonstrated the viability of low-cost, collaborative space missions, inspiring subsequent generations of CubeSat developers. Its success contributed to the growth of the CubeSat standard, which has since become a cornerstone of academic and commercial space innovation. By proving that even small teams could design, build, and launch functional satellites, the AAU CubeSat helped democratize access to space.

## Notable For
- **First Danish CubeSat**: Pioneered student-led space projects in Denmark.
- **Early CubeSat Mission**: Among the first wave of CubeSats launched in 2003.
- **Educational Focus**: Highlighted the role of hands-on space engineering training.
- **Rokot Launch**: Utilized a Russian launch vehicle during a period of international space collaboration.

## Body
### Launch Details
- **Date**: June 30, 2003
- **Vehicle**: Rokot (a Russian light-lift launch vehicle)
- **Site**: Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 133/3 in northwestern Russia

### Technical Specifications
- **Size**: 1U CubeSat (10cm × 10cm × 10cm)
- **SCN**: 27846
- **COSPAR ID**: 2003-031G
- **Mission Type**: Technology demonstration

### Mission Objective
The AAU CubeSat aimed to test basic satellite systems, including power, communication, and structural integrity, in the space environment. As a student project, it emphasized hands-on learning and the development of low-cost satellite technologies.

### Legacy
Though no longer operational, the AAU CubeSat played a foundational role in validating the CubeSat model for educational institutions. Its launch alongside other early CubeSats (e.g., DTUsat) marked the beginning of a new era in accessible space exploration, encouraging universities and small organizations to pursue satellite projects. The mission underscored the importance of international collaboration, leveraging Russian launch capabilities to deploy a Danish-built satellite.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report