# e-st@r

> Italian satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q3717087](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3717087)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-st@r)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/e-st-r

## Summary
e-st@r is an Italian CubeSat satellite developed by the Polytechnic University of Turin, launched on February 13, 2012. It served as an amateur radio satellite and an Earth-orbiting spacecraft, designed to test orbital technologies and communication systems.

## Key Facts
- e-st@r is an Italian satellite operated by the Polytechnic University of Turin, launched on February 13, 2012.
- It is a CubeSat, a type of miniaturized satellite composed of 10cm-sided cubic modules.
- The satellite was deployed via the Vega launch vehicle from the Ensemble de Lancement Vega facility.
- Its COSPAR ID is 2012-006C, and it had a Freebase ID of /m/0k8bwtr.
- e-st@r orbits Earth at an altitude ranging from 302 km (periapsis) to 1,082 km (apoapsis), with an orbital period of 98.47 minutes and an inclination of 71 degrees.
- It functioned as an amateur radio satellite, enabling radio communications experiments.
- The satellite was succeeded by e-st@r-II, its follow-up mission.

## FAQs
### Q: What was e-st@r's purpose?
A: e-st@r was designed to test orbital technologies and communication systems as a CubeSat, with a focus on amateur radio capabilities. It served as a technology demonstrator for the Polytechnic University of Turin.

### Q: Who built e-st@r?
A: e-st@r was developed and operated by the Polytechnic University of Turin, which designed and managed the satellite throughout its mission.

### Q: When and how was e-st@r launched?
A: It was launched on February 13, 2012, from the Ensemble de Lancement Vega facility using the Vega expendable launch vehicle, marking one of Vega's inaugural missions.

### Q: What distinguishes e-st@r from other satellites?
A: As an Italian CubeSat, it combined miniaturized satellite architecture with amateur radio functionality, pioneering low-cost space technology for universities and research institutions.

## Why It Matters
e-st@r represented a milestone in affordable, university-led space exploration, demonstrating that complex missions could be executed with minimal resources through CubeSat technology. Its launch on the Vega rocket provided critical data for Europe's new launch vehicle while validating Polytechnic University of Turin's engineering capabilities. As an amateur radio satellite, it democratized space communication, enabling educational and experimental radio transmissions accessible to hobbyists and researchers worldwide. This laid groundwork for subsequent missions like e-st@r-II and inspired broader adoption of CubeSats in scientific and educational contexts, reducing barriers to entry in space exploration.

## Notable For
- One of the inaugural payloads launched by Europe's Vega rocket (February 2012), contributing to its validation phase.
- Developed entirely by a university (Polytechnic University of Turin), exemplifying student-led satellite innovation.
- Functioned as both an artificial satellite of Earth and an amateur radio platform, merging technical experimentation with public accessibility.
- Followed a CubeSat standard, advancing the use of miniaturized, low-cost satellites for real-world applications.
- Maintained a highly elliptical orbit (302–1,082 km), enabling diverse atmospheric and technological testing environments.

## Body
### Mission Overview
e-st@r was an Italian CubeSat satellite launched on February 13, 2012. It was operated by the Polytechnic University of Turin, which both designed and managed the spacecraft. The mission focused on testing orbital mechanics and communication systems in a low-cost, miniaturized format.

### Technical Specifications
- **Type**: CubeSat (miniaturized satellite with 10cm-sided modules) and amateur radio satellite.
- **Orbit**: Elliptical orbit with periapsis at 302 km and apoapsis at 1,082 km relative to Earth.
- **Orbital Period**: 98.47 minutes with an inclination of 71 degrees.
- **Operator**: Polytechnic University of Turin.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Vega (European expendable orbital launch vehicle).
- **Launch Site**: Ensemble de Lancement Vega in French Guiana.
- **COSPAR ID**: 2012-006C.

### Development and Predecessor
The satellite was developed and built by the Polytechnic University of Turin, leveraging CubeSat technology for accessibility and cost efficiency. It was succeeded by e-st@r-II, which continued its experimental objectives.

### Communication and Functionality
As an amateur radio satellite, e-st@r transmitted signals for radio experimentation and educational purposes. This aligned with its broader role as an Earth-orbiting spacecraft designed to test new satellite technologies.

### Mission Context
e-st@r was part of a wave of university-led CubeSat missions in the early 2010s, democratizing access to space. Its launch on Vega, then a new European rocket, provided valuable data for future Vega operations.

### International Presence
The satellite was documented across multiple Wikipedia languages (English, Finnish, Indonesian, Italian, Latvian, Russian), reflecting its global relevance in amateur radio and small satellite communities.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "e-st@r",
  "description": "Italian CubeSat satellite developed by the Polytechnic University of Turin, launched on February 13, 2012.",
  "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/E-st@r-II_before_launch.jpg",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206855",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-st@r"
  ],
  "additionalType": [
    "CubeSat",
    "amateur radio satellite",
    "artificial satellite of the Earth"
  ],
  "countryOfOrigin": "Italy",
  "creator": "Polytechnic University of Turin",
  "launchDate": "2012-02-13",
  "orbitalPeriod": "98.47",
  "launchVehicle": "Vega",
  "cosparId": "2012-006C"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-st@r)