# DragonSat

> artificial satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q111471833](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111471833)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/dragonsat

## Summary  
DragonSat (also known as DragonSat‑1) is an artificial satellite launched on 20 November 2013 at 01:15 UTC from Mid‑Atlantic Regional Spaceport Launch Pad 0 aboard a Minotaur I launch vehicle. It carries the COSPAR designation 2013‑064D and is catalogued as satellite 39383 in the Wolfram Language.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date & time:** 20 Nov 2013, 01:15 UTC【source】.  
- **Launch vehicle:** Minotaur I (flight #11)【source】.  
- **Launch site:** Mid‑Atlantic Regional Spaceport Launch Pad 0【source】.  
- **COSPAR ID:** 2013‑064D【source】.  
- **Wikidata ID (SCN):** 39383【source】.  
- **Alias:** DragonSat‑1【source】.  
- **Instance of:** artificial satellite【source】.  
- **Part of / parent missions:** linked to the former U.S. nanosatellite AggieSat‑2 and the failed U.S. nanosatellite Bevo‑1【source】.  
- **Significant event:** recorded as a rocket launch at the Mid‑Atlantic Regional Spaceport on the launch date【source】.

## FAQs  
### Q: When was DragonSat launched?  
A: DragonSat was launched on 20 November 2013 at 01:15 UTC.  

### Q: Which rocket carried DragonSat into orbit?  
A: The satellite was launched aboard a Minotaur I launch vehicle (flight #11).  

### Q: What is DragonSat’s official identifier?  
A: Its COSPAR ID is 2013‑064D, and it is catalogued as satellite 39383 in the Wolfram Language.  

### Q: Is DragonSat part of any larger satellite programs?  
A: Yes, it is associated with the former American nanosatellite AggieSat‑2 and the failed nanosatellite Bevo‑1.  

### Q: What type of object is DragonSat?  
A: DragonSat is classified as an artificial (human‑made) satellite.  

## Why It Matters  
DragonSat represents a concrete example of low‑cost, university‑level nanosatellite development in the United States. By hitching a ride on a Minotaur I launch, the mission demonstrated how small, academically driven payloads can access orbit without relying on commercial launch services, thereby lowering barriers to space research. Its integration with the AggieSat‑2 and Bevo‑1 programs illustrates collaborative efforts among student teams to test technologies, gather scientific data, and validate design concepts in a real orbital environment. Such missions expand the pool of hands‑on experience for future aerospace engineers, contribute to the growing catalog of small‑satellite capabilities, and help refine launch logistics for secondary payloads. In the broader context of the rapidly expanding small‑sat market, DragonSat’s successful deployment underscores the viability of cost‑effective, rapid‑turnaround space missions that can accelerate innovation and education in space science.  

## Notable For  
- First launch of the DragonSat‑1 nanosatellite on 20 Nov 2013.  
- Utilization of a Minotaur I launch vehicle, showcasing a government‑derived launch option for small payloads.  
- Inclusion in the AggieSat‑2 and Bevo‑1 mission families, linking it to multiple university‑led satellite projects.  
- Assignment of the COSPAR ID 2013‑064D, enabling precise tracking and cataloguing.  
- Catalogued as satellite 39383 in the Wolfram Language, facilitating cross‑platform data integration.  

## Body  

### Overview  
DragonSat, also referred to as DragonSat‑1, is an artificial satellite designed and built as part of academic nanosatellite initiatives in the United States. It is classified under the “artificial satellite” category in Wikidata and related knowledge bases.

### Launch Details  
- **Date & Time:** 20 November 2013, 01:15 UTC.  
- **Vehicle:** Minotaur I, flight number 11.  
- **Site:** Mid‑Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS), Launch Pad 0.  
- **Event:** Recorded as a rocket launch occurring at the launch site on the specified date.

### Identifiers  
- **COSPAR ID:** 2013‑064D.  
- **SCN (Wolfram Language):** 39383.  
- **Wikidata description:** “artificial satellite”.  
- **Alias:** DragonSat‑1.

### Associations and Parent Missions  
DragonSat is listed as part of two larger nanosatellite programs:  
- **AggieSat‑2:** A former American nanosatellite program.  
- **Bevo‑1:** A failed American nanosatellite mission.  

Both parent missions are U.S.‑based, indicating that DragonSat was developed within the American academic and research satellite community.

### Technical Classification  
- **Instance of:** Artificial satellite (human‑made object placed into orbit).  
- **Related class:** Artificial satellite (general class of orbiting human‑made objects).  
- **Launch vehicle class:** Minotaur I (space launch vehicle).

### Significance in the Small‑Sat Landscape  
DragonSat’s launch contributes to the growing body of small‑sat missions that leverage existing launch infrastructure to achieve cost‑effective access to space. Its integration with university‑led programs exemplifies the educational and experimental value of nanosatellites in advancing aerospace engineering curricula and research.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report