# KickSat

> citizen science project

**Wikidata**: [Q6404190](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6404190)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KickSat)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kicksat

## Summary
KickSat is a citizen science project and crowdfunded technology demonstration spacecraft classified as an amateur radio satellite and artificial satellite. It launched on April 18, 2014, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** KickSat is an instance of an amateur radio satellite, a technology demonstration spacecraft, an artificial satellite, and a crowdfunded project.
*   **Launch Date:** April 18, 2014.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** Falcon 9 (partially reusable orbital launch vehicle by SpaceX).
*   **Launch Site:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40.
*   **COSPAR ID:** 2014-022F.
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 39685.
*   **Funding Scheme:** Crowdfunding.
*   **Aliases:** KICKSAT.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite is KickSat?
A: KickSat is classified as an amateur radio satellite, a technology demonstration spacecraft, and an artificial satellite. It is distinctively also categorized as a crowdfunded project and a citizen science initiative.

### Q: When and how was KickSat launched?
A: KickSat was launched on April 18, 2014. It was deployed using a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 in the United States.

### Q: How was the KickSat project funded?
A: The project utilized a crowdfunding funding scheme, distinguishing it from traditional government or corporate-funded satellite missions.

## Why It Matters
KickSat represents a significant convergence of aerospace engineering and public participation. As a "citizen science project," it lowers the barrier to entry for space research, allowing individuals to contribute to or participate in missions typically reserved for large government agencies or corporations. By utilizing a crowdfunding model, KickSat demonstrated an alternative financial pathway for launching artificial satellites, validating the feasibility of community-funded space exploration.

Furthermore, as a technology demonstration spacecraft, it served a critical role in testing experimental technologies in an orbital environment. Its launch aboard the Falcon 9, a prominent reusable launch vehicle, situates it within the modern era of commercial spaceflight. The project highlights the evolution of the "CubeSat" or small satellite standard, showing how compact, specialized hardware—such as amateur radio transmitters—can be deployed for broader scientific and educational engagement.

## Notable For
*   **Citizen Science Integration:** Being explicitly defined as a citizen science project, facilitating public involvement in space research.
*   **Crowdfunded Space Exploration:** Utilizing crowdfunding as its primary funding scheme, a notable approach for orbital hardware.
*   **Technology Demonstration:** Serving as a dedicated platform to demonstrate experimental technologies in orbit.
*   **Amateur Radio Capabilities:** Functioning as an amateur radio satellite, enabling communication and experimentation within the ham radio community.
*   **Commercial Launch Integration:** Successfully launching as a payload on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

## Body
### Mission Overview
KickSat is an artificial satellite designed to function as a technology demonstration spacecraft and an amateur radio satellite. The project is managed as a citizen science initiative, relying on a crowdfunding scheme for its financial support. It holds the alias "KICKSAT" and is recorded under the Wolfram Language entity code `Entity["Satellite", "39685"]`.

### Launch and Orbital Details
The spacecraft was launched on **April 18, 2014** (recorded as a significant event: rocket launch). The launch vehicle used was the **Falcon 9**, a partially reusable orbital launch vehicle manufactured by SpaceX in the United States. The launch originated from **Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40**.

### Identifiers and Records
KickSat is tracked and identified through several international registries and databases:
*   **COSPAR ID:** 2014-022F
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 39685
*   **Freebase ID:** /m/0hnc_np
*   **Quora Topic:** Kicksat

The entity has a presence on Wikimedia Commons with the category "KickSat" and is accessible in multiple Wikipedia languages including English, German, Spanish, Indonesian, and Japanese.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Quora