# BRITE-Austria

> Austrian nanosatellite observatory

**Wikidata**: [Q5391699](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5391699)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TUGSAT-1)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/brite-austria

## Summary
BRITE-Austria (also known as TUGSAT-1 or BRITE-A) is an Austrian nanosatellite observatory and technology demonstration space telescope that is part of the international BRITE-Constellation. It is a 6.9 kg spacecraft built and operated by Graz University of Technology, designed by UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory, and launched into low Earth orbit on 2013-02-25 aboard PSLV-C20.

## Key Facts
- BRITE-Austria is a nanosatellite observatory and technology demonstration spacecraft (space telescope class).  
- Launch date and time: 2013-02-25 at 12:31 (UTC).  
- Launch vehicle: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C20) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre First Launch Pad.  
- Mass (launch weight): 6.9 kilogram.  
- Operator and primary manufacturer: Graz University of Technology.  
- Spacecraft bus: Gryphon; spacecraft bus design contribution by UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory.  
- Orbit: low Earth orbit with periapsis 776 km, apoapsis 790 km, inclination 98.62°, and orbital period 100.37 minutes.  
- COSPAR ID / NSSDCA ID: 2013-009F.  
- Part of: BRITE-Constellation.  
- Funder: Austrian Research Promotion Agency.  
- Common aliases: BRITE-A, TUGSAT-1, CanX-3B, Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiment 3B, Bright-star Target Explorer - Austria, Bright Target Explorer - Austria, BAb.

## FAQs
### Q: What is BRITE-Austria?
A: BRITE-Austria is an Austrian nanosatellite observatory and technology demonstration space telescope that forms part of the BRITE-Constellation. It was built and operated by Graz University of Technology and launched in February 2013.

### Q: When and how was BRITE-Austria launched?
A: BRITE-Austria launched on 2013-02-25 at 12:31 (UTC) aboard the Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C20) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre First Launch Pad.

### Q: Who designed and funded BRITE-Austria?
A: The spacecraft was designed by UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory and funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency. Graz University of Technology is listed as manufacturer and operator.

### Q: What orbit does BRITE-Austria operate in?
A: BRITE-Austria operates in low Earth orbit with a periapsis of 776 km, an apoapsis of 790 km, an inclination of 98.62°, and an orbital period of about 100.37 minutes.

### Q: How large/lightweight is the satellite?
A: The launch weight of BRITE-Austria is 6.9 kilograms.

## Why It Matters
BRITE-Austria is significant as an example of a national nanosatellite contributing to an international constellation of small space telescopes (BRITE-Constellation). As both a space telescope and a technology demonstration spacecraft, it represents a compact platform that combines university-led development with a specialized spacecraft bus (Gryphon) and international design collaboration (UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory). The satellite demonstrates how small, low-mass observatories can be funded and operated by academic institutions and national funding agencies to participate in coordinated space science programs. Its deployment aboard a commercial/expendable launch system (PSLV-C20) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre illustrates the typical launch pathway for small satellites in the 2010s. For researchers and institutions, BRITE-Austria exemplifies cost-effective access to low Earth orbit for observational and technology validation activities while forming part of a multi-satellite constellation.

## Notable For
- Being an Austrian nanosatellite observatory and part of the BRITE-Constellation.  
- Very small launch mass of 6.9 kg while functioning as a space telescope and technology demonstrator.  
- Use of the Gryphon spacecraft bus and design collaboration with UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory.  
- Launch aboard PSLV-C20 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre on 2013-02-25.  
- Operated and manufactured by Graz University of Technology and funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency.

## Body

### Overview
- Official short name: BRITE-Austria.  
- Also known as: TUGSAT-1, BRITE-A, CanX-3B, Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiment 3B, Can X-3B, Bright-star Target Explorer - Austria, Bright Target Explorer - Austria, BAb.  
- Instance of: space telescope and technology demonstration spacecraft.  
- Part of the BRITE-Constellation mission grouping.

### Design and Manufacturer
- Primary operator and listed manufacturer: Graz University of Technology.  
- Spacecraft bus: Gryphon.  
- Design for the spacecraft bus attributed to UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory.  
- The mission combined Austrian institutional manufacturing with Canadian (UTIAS) design input for the bus.

### Launch and Orbit
- Launch date and time: 2013-02-25 at 12:31 (UTC).  
- Launch vehicle: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), mission designation PSLV-C20.  
- Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre First Launch Pad.  
- Orbit regime: low Earth orbit.  
- Orbital parameters: periapsis 776 km, apoapsis 790 km, inclination 98.62°, orbital period 100.37 minutes.

### Mission Classification and Role
- Classified as both a space telescope (observatory) and a technology demonstration spacecraft.  
- Part of the BRITE-Constellation, indicating a role within a multi-satellite constellation architecture.

### Funding and Operations
- Funder: Austrian Research Promotion Agency.  
- Operator: Graz University of Technology.  
- Significant event timeline entries include funding activity noted around 2006 and the rocket launch event on 2013-02-25.

### Identifiers and Reference Data
- COSPAR ID: 2013-009F.  
- NSSDCA ID: 2013-009F.  
- Spacecraft catalog number (SCN): 39091.  
- Freebase ID: /m/0r8k460.  
- Wikipedia title entry: TUGSAT-1.  
- Country of origin: Austria.  
- Official project page (German): https://www.tugraz.at/institute/iks/weltraummissionen/brite-austria-tugsat-1

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/tugsat-1.htm)
2. [Source](https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/brite-canada#background)
3. Jonathan's Space Report
4. [Source](https://www.utias-sfl.net/canx-3-brite-constellation/)
5. [Source](https://www.tugraz.at/institute/iks/weltraummissionen/brite-austria-tugsat-1/satellit-und-nutzlast)
6. [Source](https://brite-constellation.at/constellation/basic_information/)