# KnackSat
**Wikidata**: [Q111552090](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111552090)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/knacksat

## Summary
KnackSat (also known as HS0K) is a 1-kilogram CubeSat operated by King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok. Launched on December 3, 2018, it serves as a technology demonstration spacecraft and an amateur radio satellite. It was deployed into a Sun-synchronous orbit aboard a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East.

## Key Facts
- **Operator:** King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok
- **Launch Date:** December 3, 2018
- **Mass:** 1 kilogram
- **Classification:** Technology demonstration spacecraft; CubeSat; Amateur radio satellite
- **Launch Vehicle:** Falcon 9 Block 5
- **Launch Site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East
- **Orbit:** Sun-synchronous orbit
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 99921
- **Alias:** HS0K

## FAQs
### Q: Who owns and operates KnackSat?
A: KnackSat is owned and operated by King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, a university located in Thailand.

### Q: What was the purpose of the KnackSat mission?
A: KnackSat was designed as a technology demonstration spacecraft to test experimental technologies in space. Additionally, it functions as an amateur radio satellite.

### Q: How was KnackSat launched and where is it located?
A: KnackSat was launched on December 3, 2018, using a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East. It orbits the Earth in a Sun-synchronous orbit.

## Why It Matters
KnackSat represents a significant milestone in space technology development for the academic sector in Thailand. As a technology demonstration spacecraft, it serves as a practical platform for King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok to validate experimental technologies in the harsh environment of space. By utilizing the CubeSat standard—specifically a 1-kilogram, 10cm-sided cubic module—the mission highlights the accessibility of space for educational institutions and the efficacy of miniaturized satellite technology.

The project bridges the gap between theoretical engineering and real-world application. Its dual role as an amateur radio satellite also provides value to the global amateur radio community, allowing for communication experiments and signal reception. Launching aboard the Falcon 9 Block 5, a cutting-edge orbital launch vehicle, and settling into a Sun-synchronous orbit ensures the satellite maintains a consistent relationship with the Sun, which is optimal for Earth observation and power management. KnackSat exemplifies the growing trend of university-led space initiatives that contribute to broader scientific and engineering knowledge.

## Notable For
- **Academic Operation:** It is a satellite operated specifically by King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok.
- **Dual Classification:** It serves the dual purpose of demonstrating new technologies and functioning as an amateur radio satellite.
- **Specific Launch Configuration:** It was launched via the Falcon 9 Block 5, the current version of SpaceX's orbital launch vehicle at the time.
- **Standardized Form Factor:** It adheres to the CubeSat standard, utilizing 10cm-sided cubic modules with a total mass of 1 kilogram.

## Body
### Technical Specifications
KnackSat is classified as a **CubeSat**, a type of miniaturized satellite made up of 10cm-sided cubic modules. It has a confirmed mass of **1 kilogram**. The spacecraft is identified by the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) **99921** and carries the alias **HS0K**.

### Mission Profile
The spacecraft falls under the class of **technology demonstration spacecraft**, designed to demonstrate experimental technologies in orbit. It also functions as an **amateur radio satellite**, capable of transmitting amateur radio signals.

### Launch and Orbit
KnackSat was successfully launched on **December 3, 2018**. The launch vehicle used was the **Falcon 9 Block 5**, which lifted off from **Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East**. The satellite was deployed into a **Sun-synchronous orbit**, a near-polar orbit where the satellite passes over any given point of the planet's surface at the same local mean solar time.

### Operator
The satellite is owned and operated by **King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok**, a university in Thailand that was established in 1959.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "KnackSat",
  "description": "A 1-kilogram technology demonstration CubeSat and amateur radio satellite operated by King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/g/11pzklddmw"
  ],
  "additionalType": "CubeSat"
}

## References

1. SatNOGS
2. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/knacksat.htm)