# Hiscock Radiation Belt Explorer

> former American CubeSat

**Wikidata**: [Q127976929](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q127976929)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explorer-1_Prime_Unit_2)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/hiscock-radiation-belt-explorer

## Summary
The Hiscock Radiation Belt Explorer was a former American CubeSat satellite launched in 2011 to study Earth's magnetosphere. It was built by Montana State University and the Montana Space Grant Consortium as a successor to the lost Explorer-1 Prime mission. The satellite operated in low Earth orbit until its atmospheric re-entry in June 2024.

## Key Facts
- Launched on October 28, 2011 at 09:48:02 UTC from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 West
- Weighed 1 kilogram and measured 10 cm on each side as a standard CubeSat
- Operated by Montana Space Grant Consortium and Montana State University
- Had COSPAR ID 2011-061F and NORAD catalog number 37855
- Powered by solar cells and designed as a geomagnetic satellite
- Re-entered Earth's atmosphere on June 30, 2024
- Launched aboard a Delta II rocket (D-357) alongside Suomi NPP, RAX-2, AubieSat-1, and M-Cubed
- Also known as Explorer 1 [Prime] Unit 2, Explorer 1 Prime Unit 2, and E1P U2

### Q: What was the Hiscock Radiation Belt Explorer?
A: The Hiscock Radiation Belt Explorer was a 1-kilogram American CubeSat satellite launched in 2011 to study Earth's radiation belts. Built by Montana State University, it operated in low Earth orbit until 2024.

### Q: When and how was the satellite launched?
A: It launched on October 28, 2011 at 09:48:02 UTC from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 West aboard a Delta II rocket, alongside several other small satellites.

### Q: What happened to the satellite after its mission?
A: The satellite re-entered Earth's atmosphere on June 30, 2024, ending its operational life after approximately 12.7 years in orbit.

## Why It Matters
The Hiscock Radiation Belt Explorer represented an important educational and scientific achievement in small satellite technology. As a CubeSat, it demonstrated how universities could design, build, and operate sophisticated space missions on limited budgets. The satellite continued the legacy of the Explorer program, which began with America's first satellite in 1958, by studying Earth's magnetosphere and radiation belts. Its successful launch and operation provided valuable hands-on experience for students and researchers at Montana State University and the Montana Space Grant Consortium, contributing to the growing expertise in small satellite development. The mission also advanced our understanding of space weather and the Van Allen radiation belts, which affect satellite operations and communications.

## Notable For
- First successful CubeSat mission by Montana State University following the lost Explorer-1 Prime
- Educational platform that trained multiple generations of space engineering students
- Long-duration mission lasting over 12 years in low Earth orbit
- Part of the historic Explorer program's legacy of radiation belt research
- Demonstrated reliable solar-powered operation in space for over a decade

## Body
### Mission Background
The Hiscock Radiation Belt Explorer was developed as a follow-on to the Explorer-1 Prime mission, which had been lost in a launch failure. Named after William A. Hiscock, a physics professor at Montana State University, the satellite aimed to continue radiation belt research that began with the original Explorer 1 mission in 1958.

### Technical Specifications
As a standard 1U CubeSat, the satellite measured 10x10x10 cm and weighed exactly 1 kilogram. It was powered by solar cells and designed to operate in low Earth orbit. The satellite carried instruments to study Earth's magnetosphere and radiation environment.

### Launch and Operations
The Delta II rocket launched the satellite along with several other payloads from Vandenberg Air Force Base. The launch occurred at 09:48:02 UTC on October 28, 2011. The satellite operated successfully for over 12 years before atmospheric re-entry.

### Mission Legacy
The mission provided crucial hands-on experience for students and researchers at Montana State University. It demonstrated the viability of university-built satellites for serious scientific research and helped establish Montana as a center for small satellite development. The satellite's long operational life exceeded initial expectations and provided extended data collection opportunities.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Hiscock Radiation Belt Explorer",
  "description": "Former American CubeSat satellite launched in 2011 to study Earth's magnetosphere",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explorer-1_Prime_Unit_2"
  ],
  "additionalType": "geomagnetic satellite"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/e1p.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. [Source](https://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=37855)