# CAPE-1

> 31130

**Wikidata**: [Q5008741](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5008741)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAPE-1)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cape-1

## Summary
CAPE-1 is a miniaturized CubeSat satellite operated by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Launched on April 17, 2007, it was deployed into orbit using a Dneper rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The satellite is tracked internationally under the designator COSPAR ID 2007-012P and Satellite Catalog Number 31130.

## Key Facts
- **Operator:** University of Louisiana at Lafayette (a public research university in Lafayette, Louisiana).
- **Classification:** CubeSat (a miniaturized satellite made up of 10cm-sided cubic modules).
- **Launch Date:** April 17, 2007.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Dnepr (a converted Satan ICBM used as a satellite launch vehicle).
- **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 109.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 31130.
- **COSPAR ID:** 2007-012P.
- **Significant Event:** Rocket launch (April 17, 2007).

## FAQs
### Q: Who owns and operates CAPE-1?
A: CAPE-1 is owned and operated by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a public research university located in Lafayette, Louisiana.

### Q: When was CAPE-1 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on April 17, 2007, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 109.

### Q: What type of satellite is CAPE-1?
A: CAPE-1 is a CubeSat, which is a class of miniaturized satellites constructed from standard 10cm-sided cubic modules.

## Why It Matters
CAPE-1 represents a significant milestone in university-led space exploration and the broader adoption of the CubeSat standard. As a project operated by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, it highlights the accessibility of space for academic institutions, allowing researchers and students to participate directly in satellite development and deployment.

The satellite's launch aboard a Dnepr vehicle—a converted Satan ICBM—also illustrates the post-Cold War repurposing of military technology for scientific and educational use. By utilizing this converted intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) technology, the mission contributed to the democratization of space access, enabling smaller entities to orbit payloads that would have previously required massive dedicated funding. As one of the many CubeSats launched in the mid-2000s, CAPE-1 helped pave the way for the modern small satellite industry.

## Notable For
- Being a **CubeSat**, a standardized miniaturized satellite format widely used for academic and commercial research.
- Operation by a **public research university** (University of Louisiana at Lafayette) rather than a government agency or major corporation.
- Launch via a **Dnepr rocket**, utilizing a converted Soviet-era Satan ICBM.
- Having a specific **Satellite Catalog Number (31130)** and **COSPAR ID (2007-012P)**, officially cataloging it in global space tracking systems.
- Launching from **Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 109**, a historic spaceport.

## Body

### Operator and Development
CAPE-1 is operated by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The university, established in 1900, is a public research institution located in Lafayette, Louisiana, United States. It serves as the headquarters for the project, leveraging its academic resources to manage the satellite.

### Technical Specifications
CAPE-1 is an instance of a **CubeSat**. This classification refers to a type of miniaturized satellite composed of one or more cubic modules, each measuring 10 cm per side. The specific technical configurations regarding its internal payload are derived from this standard class specification.

### Mission and Launch
The satellite's deployment is defined by a significant rocket launch event.
- **Date:** The launch occurred on April 17, 2007.
- **Location:** The start point for the mission was the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 109.
- **Vehicle:** It was delivered to orbit by a **Dnepr** launch vehicle. The Dnepr is a conversion of the "Satan" ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile), repurposed for deploying satellites.

### Identification Codes
CAPE-1 is officially tracked in international space catalogs under the following identifiers:
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 31130
- **COSPAR ID:** 2007-012P
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** `Entity["Satellite", "31130"]`

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report