# Colorado Student Space Weather Experiment

> American microsatellite

**Wikidata**: [Q14273817](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14273817)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_Student_Space_Weather_Experiment)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/colorado-student-space-weather-experiment

## Summary
The Colorado Student Space Weather Experiment (CSSWE) was an American microsatellite built by students at the University of Colorado Boulder to study space weather. This CubeSat, launched in 2012, marked a significant achievement in student-led space missions before being succeeded by the Colorado Inner Radiation Belt Experiment.

## Key Facts
- The Colorado Student Space Weather Experiment is an American microsatellite belonging to the CubeSat class of miniaturized satellites
- It was launched on September 13, 2012 from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3
- The satellite was developed and operated by the University of Colorado Boulder
- It was launched using an Atlas V 401 rocket vehicle
- Its COSPAR ID is 2012-048D and SCN (Spacecraft Catalog Number) is 38761
- The mission was succeeded by the Colorado Inner Radiation Belt Experiment
- The satellite is also known by the alias CCSWE

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of the Colorado Student Space Weather Experiment?
A: The Colorado Student Space Weather Experiment was designed to study space weather phenomena. As a student-built microsatellite, it provided hands-on experience in spacecraft design and operation while contributing to scientific research in the space weather field.

### Q: Who developed the Colorado Student Space Weather Experiment?
A: The Colorado Student Space Weather Experiment was developed by the University of Colorado Boulder. It was operated by students, making it a notable example of a student-led space mission.

### Q: What launch vehicle was used for the Colorado Student Space Weather Experiment?
A: The satellite was launched using an Atlas V 401 rocket vehicle, which provided the necessary propulsion to place the CubeSat into orbit.

### Q: When did the Colorado Student Space Weather Experiment mission end?
A: The source material does not specify when the mission ended, but it was succeeded by the Colorado Inner Radiation Belt Experiment, indicating the conclusion of CSSWE's operational period.

## Why It Matters
The Colorado Student Space Weather Experiment represents a significant achievement in student-led space exploration. As a CubeSat built entirely by university students, it demonstrated the growing capability of educational institutions to develop functional space hardware with limited resources. This mission provided invaluable hands-on experience for students in spacecraft design, integration, and operation, fostering the next generation of space engineers and scientists. The experiment's success paved the way for subsequent missions like the Colorado Inner Radiation Belt Experiment, building a legacy of student innovation in space research. Such student-led projects help democratize space exploration while providing practical experience that complements academic coursework.

## Notable For
- Being a student-built CubeSat developed entirely by university students at the University of Colorado Boulder
- Its launch aboard an Atlas V 401 rocket, demonstrating successful integration with a professional launch vehicle
- Its role as the predecessor to the Colorado Inner Radiation Belt Experiment, establishing a series of student-led space weather research missions
- Its inclusion in the CubeSat class of satellites, which revolutionized space access by reducing costs and development time
- Its operation as an American microsatellite contributing to space weather research

## Body
### Mission Overview
The Colorado Student Space Weather Experiment (CSSWE) was an American microsatellite built by students at the University of Colorado Boulder. The satellite belongs to the CubeSat class, which consists of miniaturized satellites made up of 10cm-sided cubic modules. CSSWE was launched on September 13, 2012, from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3 aboard an Atlas V 401 rocket vehicle. Its COSPAR ID is 2012-048D, and it has an SCN (Spacecraft Catalog Number) of 38761.

### Development and Operation
The satellite was developed and operated by the University of Colorado Boulder, providing students with hands-on experience in spacecraft design, integration, and operation. The CSSWE mission was succeeded by the Colorado Inner Radiation Belt Experiment, continuing the university's student-led space research program. The satellite is also known by the alias CCSWE and has been documented across multiple Wikipedia languages including German (de), English (en), and Indonesian (id).

### Technical Specifications
As a CubeSat, CSSWE utilized the standardized 10cm cubic module format that has become popular for educational and research satellite missions. The mission utilized the Atlas V 401 launch vehicle, a United Launch Alliance rocket that provided the necessary propulsion to place the microsatellite into its operational orbit. The spacecraft was integrated prior to launch in a PPOD (Poly-Picosatellite Orbital Deployer) container, as evidenced by available imagery showing the satellite in this configuration before deployment.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report