# Hermes

> American CubeSat, lost in a launch failure

**Wikidata**: [Q4356699](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4356699)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermes_(satellite))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/hermes-q4356699

## Summary
Hermes was an American CubeSat developed by the Colorado Space Grant Consortium as a technology demonstration spacecraft. It was lost during a launch failure on March 4, 2011, when the Minotaur-C rocket carrying it malfunctioned.

## Key Facts
- **Type**: Technology demonstration CubeSat (miniaturized satellite)
- **Mass**: 1 kilogram
- **Operator/Manufacturer**: Colorado Space Grant Consortium
- **Launch Date**: March 4, 2011, at 10:09:43 UTC
- **Launch Vehicle**: Minotaur-C 3110 (flight T9)
- **Launch Site**: Vandenberg Launch Complex 576 E
- **Power Source**: Solar cells
- **Status**: Lost due to launch failure
- **Aliases**: Hermes 1
- **Country of Origin**: United States

## FAQs
### Q: What was Hermes designed to do?
A: Hermes was a CubeSat designed to demonstrate experimental technologies. Its exact payload and mission objectives are not specified in the provided source material.

### Q: Why was Hermes lost?
A: Hermes was lost when the Minotaur-C rocket carrying it malfunctioned during launch on March 4, 2011.

### Q: Who built Hermes?
A: Hermes was built by the Colorado Space Grant Consortium, which also operated the satellite.

### Q: What was the launch vehicle for Hermes?
A: Hermes was launched on a Minotaur-C 3110 rocket (flight T9) from Vandenberg Launch Complex 576 E.

### Q: What was the significance of Hermes' launch?
A: Hermes' launch was part of a multi-payload mission that also included the Glory and KySat-1 satellites, as well as the Explorer-1 Prime reentry capsule.

## Why It Matters
Hermes represents a notable example of a CubeSat mission that ended in failure. As a technology demonstration spacecraft, it aimed to test experimental technologies in space, though its specific objectives are not detailed in the available source material. The launch failure of the Minotaur-C rocket, which also carried the Glory satellite (a NASA climate-monitoring mission) and the Explorer-1 Prime reentry capsule, highlights the risks and challenges of spaceflight. Despite its loss, Hermes serves as a case study in the development and deployment of CubeSats, which are increasingly used for educational, scientific, and commercial purposes.

## Notable For
- **Firsts**: One of the payloads lost in the 2011 Minotaur-C launch failure, which also resulted in the loss of the Glory satellite.
- **Technology Demonstration**: Designed to test experimental technologies, though specifics are not provided.
- **CubeSat Mission**: A notable example of a CubeSat mission that did not achieve orbit due to launch failure.

## Body
### Overview
Hermes was a 1-kilogram CubeSat developed by the Colorado Space Grant Consortium. It was part of a multi-payload mission launched on March 4, 2011, aboard a Minotaur-C 3110 rocket (flight T9) from Vandenberg Launch Complex 576 E. The mission also included the Glory satellite, KySat-1, and the Explorer-1 Prime reentry capsule.

### Mission and Objectives
Hermes was classified as a technology demonstration spacecraft, though the exact technologies it was intended to test are not specified in the available source material. CubeSats like Hermes are typically used for educational, scientific, or commercial purposes, often serving as platforms for testing new technologies or conducting research.

### Launch and Failure
The launch of Hermes ended in failure when the Minotaur-C rocket malfunctioned. This incident also resulted in the loss of the Glory satellite, a NASA mission designed to study Earth's energy balance, and the Explorer-1 Prime reentry capsule. The failure was attributed to a malfunction in the rocket's third stage.

### Significance
Hermes' loss underscores the challenges and risks associated with spaceflight, particularly for smaller, experimental missions. Despite its failure, the mission contributed to the broader understanding of CubeSat development and deployment. The Colorado Space Grant Consortium, which built and operated Hermes, continues to play a role in advancing CubeSat technology and education in space science.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/hermes.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report