# European Student Earth Orbiter

> ESA educational and amateur radio microsatellite

**Wikidata**: [Q60983047](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q60983047)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/european-student-earth-orbiter

## Summary
The European Student Earth Orbiter (ESEO) is a microsatellite developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) for educational purposes and amateur radio operations. Launched in December 2018, it was designed to provide students with hands-on experience in space technology while supporting global amateur radio communications.

## Key Facts
- Official name: European Student Earth Orbiter; aliases include ESEO and FUNcube 4
- Mass: 44 kilograms
- Sponsor: European Space Agency (ESA)
- Manufacturer: Sitael
- Operator: University of Bologna
- Launch date: 2018-12-03 at 18:34:05 UTC
- Launch site: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East
- Launch vehicle: Falcon 9 Block 5 (core B1046, flight 3)
- Orbit: Sun-synchronous orbit with periapsis of 564.37 km and apoapsis of 584.53 km
- Orbital period: 94 minutes
- Orbital inclination: 97.5 degrees
- State of use: Inactive since 2020-12-04
- COSPAR ID: 2018-099AL
- Instance of: Amateur radio satellite

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of the European Student Earth Orbiter?
A: The ESEO mission aimed to support education by giving university students practical experience in satellite development and operation. It also functioned as an amateur radio satellite, enabling communication among enthusiasts worldwide.

### Q: When was the ESEO launched and what rocket carried it into space?
A: ESEO was launched on December 3, 2018, using a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East. The specific booster used was B1046 on its third flight.

### Q: Is the European Student Earth Orbiter still operational?
A: No, the satellite became inactive on December 4, 2020. Prior to that, it successfully completed its primary mission objectives including student training and amateur radio service.

## Why It Matters
The European Student Earth Orbiter represents a key initiative by ESA to foster next-generation talent in aerospace engineering through direct involvement in real missions. By integrating educational goals with functional utility—specifically amateur radio capabilities—it bridges academic learning with tangible contributions to international amateur radio communities. Its design and deployment demonstrate how small satellites can serve dual roles: advancing technical education and maintaining public access to space-based communication platforms. Though now inactive, ESEO's legacy continues to influence future ESA-sponsored student projects and contributes to the broader CubeSat and microsatellite movement in academia.

## Notable For
- First ESA-sponsored educational microsatellite specifically tailored for both student engagement and amateur radio services
- Built by Italian company Sitael under ESA’s Educational Satellite Programme
- Operated in a precise sun-synchronous orbit optimized for consistent lighting conditions during imaging tasks
- Integrated multiple payloads including a camera, dosimeter, and atmospheric sensors alongside its amateur radio transponder
- Demonstrated successful collaboration between ESA, academic institutions (University of Bologna), and commercial partners

## Body
### Mission Overview
The European Student Earth Orbiter (ESEO) was part of ESA's Educational Satellite Programme, intended to train university students in all aspects of satellite development and operations. The project emphasized interdisciplinary cooperation across European universities and industry partners.

### Technical Specifications
- **Mass**: 44 kg  
- **Orbit Type**: Sun-synchronous orbit  
- **Periapsis**: 564.37 km  
- **Apoapsis**: 584.53 km  
- **Inclination**: 97.5°  
- **Orbital Period**: ~94 minutes  

### Development & Construction
- **Manufacturer**: Sitael S.p.A., Italy  
- **Operator**: University of Bologna  
- **Sponsor**: European Space Agency  

### Launch Details
- **Date**: 2018-12-03  
- **Time**: 18:34:05 UTC  
- **Launch Site**: Vandenberg SLC-4E  
- **Vehicle**: Falcon 9 Block 5 (Booster B1046, Flight 3)  

### Operational Status
- **State of Use**: Inactive  
- **End Date**: 2020-12-04  

### Payloads and Functions
- Amateur radio transponder for global communications  
- Earth observation camera  
- Dosimetry experiment to measure radiation levels  
- Atmospheric sensor suite  

### Classification and Identification
- **Instance Of**: Amateur radio satellite  
- **COSPAR ID**: 2018-099AL  
- **SCN**: 43792  
- **Parent Body**: Earth  
- **Country of Origin**: United Kingdom

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/eseo.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. [Source](https://www.esa.int/Education/ESEO/The_ESEO_Mission)