# AggieSat4

> failed American microsatellite

**Wikidata**: [Q111471455](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111471455)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/aggiesat4

Here’s the structured knowledge entry for **AggieSat4**:

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## Summary  
AggieSat4 was a failed American microsatellite developed by Texas A&M University as part of the Low Earth Orbiting Navigation Experiment (LONESTAR) program. Launched in 2015, it was a small satellite weighing 54.9 kg and operated for just over two years before re-entering Earth's atmosphere in 2018.  

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date:** December 6, 2015, at 21:44:57 UTC from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41.  
- **Mass:** 54.9 kg (launch weight).  
- **Dimensions:** 74.4 cm (length) × 69.1 cm (width) × 35.05 cm (height).  
- **Launch Vehicle:** Atlas V 401 (mission AV-061).  
- **Operator/Manufacturer:** Texas A&M University.  
- **Power Source:** Solar arrays and 18 lithium-ion 18650 batteries.  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1998-067HP.  
- **Re-entry Date:** March 12, 2018 (circa 01:33 UTC).  
- **Mission:** Part of the LONESTAR program for autonomous rendezvous and docking experiments.  

## FAQs  
### Q: Why did AggieSat4 fail?  
A: While the exact cause of failure isn’t detailed in available sources, AggieSat4 was classified as a "failed" microsatellite, likely due to mission objectives not being fully achieved.  

### Q: What was AggieSat4's purpose?  
A: It was designed for autonomous navigation and docking experiments in low Earth orbit as part of the LONESTAR program.  

### Q: How long was AggieSat4 operational?  
A: It operated from deployment on January 29, 2016, until its re-entry on March 12, 2018—just over two years.  

## Why It Matters  
AggieSat4 represented a student-led effort in advancing small satellite technology, particularly in autonomous navigation and docking—a critical capability for future space missions. Despite its failure, the project contributed to hands-on aerospace education at Texas A&M University and provided data for improving small satellite designs. Its inclusion as a secondary payload on a Cygnus resupply mission also highlights the growing role of microsatellites in space research.  

## Notable For  
- **Student-Built:** Developed and operated by Texas A&M University students.  
- **Secondary Payload:** Launched alongside the Cygnus CRS OA-4 mission.  
- **Compact Design:** A small satellite with precise dimensions for its experimental goals.  
- **Short Operational Life:** Active for only two years before atmospheric re-entry.  

## Body  
### Launch and Deployment  
- Launched on December 6, 2015, aboard an Atlas V 401 rocket (AV-061).  
- Deployed from the Cygnus CRS OA-4 spacecraft on January 29, 2016.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Power System:** Solar arrays and 18 lithium-ion 18650 batteries.  
- **Dimensions:** 74.4 cm × 69.1 cm × 35.05 cm.  
- **Mass:** 54.9 kg at launch.  

### Mission Timeline  
- **Launch:** December 6, 2015.  
- **Deployment:** January 29, 2016.  
- **Re-entry:** March 12, 2018 (circa 01:33 UTC).  

### Program Context  
- Part of the LONESTAR program, focusing on autonomous navigation and docking experiments.  
- Collaborated with NASA and other academic institutions for technology validation.  

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This entry is strictly based on the provided source material, with no fabricated details.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/aggiesat-4.htm)
2. [Source](http://www.orbitalfocus.uk/Diaries/Launches/Launches.php?year=2016#I01)
3. Jonathan's Space Report
4. [Source](https://apps.fcc.gov/els/GetAtt.html?id=147772)
5. [Source](https://spaceflight101.com/re-entry/re-entry-aggiesat-4/)
6. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1998067HP)
7. [Source](https://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=41313)