# ANUSAT

> microsatellite

**Wikidata**: [Q14984](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14984)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANUSAT)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/anusat

## Summary
ANUSAT (Anna University Satellite) was a microsatellite operated by Anna University that functioned as an amateur radio satellite. Launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle on April 20, 2009, the satellite remained in orbit until its atmospheric entry on April 18, 2012.

## Key Facts
- **Operator:** Anna University (a state-run university in Guindy, Tamil Nadu).
- **Classification:** Microsatellite and amateur radio satellite.
- **Launch Date:** April 20, 2009.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
- **Launch Site:** Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Second Launch Pad.
- **COSPAR ID:** 2009-019B.
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** 34808.
- **Mission Duration:** The satellite operated for approximately three years, decaying from orbit on April 18, 2012.

## FAQs
### Q: Who owned and operated ANUSAT?
A: ANUSAT was owned and operated by Anna University, a state-run university located in Guindy, Tamil Nadu, India.

### Q: What was the primary function of ANUSAT?
A: ANUSAT was classified as a microsatellite designed to function as an amateur radio satellite, facilitating the transmission of amateur radio signals.

### Q: How was ANUSAT launched and when did it decay?
A: The satellite was launched on April 20, 2009, using a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. It re-entered the atmosphere and decayed on April 18, 2012.

## Why It Matters
ANUSAT represents a significant intersection of academic research and space technology within the Indian space program. As a microsatellite operated by Anna University, it highlights the role of domestic educational institutions in contributing to payload development and satellite operations, moving beyond theoretical research to tangible space assets. The mission provided critical hands-on experience in satellite building and operation for the university.

Furthermore, its classification as an amateur radio satellite indicates its utility in fostering communication capabilities and technical experimentation within the amateur radio community. Launched aboard the highly reliable Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), ANUSAT served as a demonstration of microsatellite technology, operating for a three-year period before its controlled atmospheric entry. The data and experience gained from this mission contribute to the broader understanding of low-cost satellite systems and orbital dynamics.

## Notable For
- **Academic Operation:** Distinguished by being operated by Anna University rather than a national space agency directly, emphasizing the role of higher education in space exploration.
- **Specific Launch Configuration:** Launched from the Second Launch Pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, a specific infrastructure detail noted in its mission profile.
- **Amateur Radio Classification:** Functioned specifically as an amateur radio satellite, serving the global ham radio community.
- **Rapid Orbital Decay:** The satellite had a defined orbital life, re-entering the atmosphere exactly three years after its launch in April 2009.

## Body
### Mission Profile and Ownership
ANUSAT was a microsatellite platform primarily categorized as an amateur radio satellite. The entity responsible for the ownership and operation of the satellite was Anna University, a state-run institution based in Guindy, Tamil Nadu, which was established in 1978.

### Launch Specifications
The satellite was successfully delivered to orbit on April 20, 2009. The launch was executed using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), an expendable launch system developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The specific departure point for the mission was the Satish Dhawan Space Centre Second Launch Pad.

### Orbital Identifiers
To track the satellite, specific international identifiers were assigned:
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 34808
- **COSPAR ID:** 2009-019B

### Mission Conclusion
The satellite's operational timeline concluded with a specific "significant event" defined as atmospheric entry. Records indicate that ANUSAT underwent time-of-object-orbit decay on April 18, 2012.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report