# Mayflower
**Wikidata**: [Q3991783](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3991783)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mayflower-q3991783

## Summary  
The Mayflower is a CubeSat launched on December 8, 2010, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40. It is identified by COSPAR ID 2010-066J and satellite catalog number 37252.  

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date**: December 8, 2010.  
- **Launch Vehicle**: SpaceX Falcon 9.  
- **COSPAR ID**: 2010-066J.  
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 37252.  
- **Launch Site**: Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40.  
- **Type**: CubeSat (miniaturized satellite composed of 10cm-sided cubic modules).  
- **Significant Event**: Part of a rocket launch with a rideshare mission.  

## FAQs  
### Q: When was the Mayflower satellite launched?  
A: The Mayflower was launched on December 8, 2010.  

### Q: What type of rocket carried the Mayflower into space?  
A: It was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.  

### Q: What is the Mayflower's COSPAR ID?  
A: Its COSPAR ID is 2010-066J.  

## Why It Matters  
The Mayflower represents an early example of CubeSat technology, a cost-effective and accessible platform for space research and experimentation. As part of a rideshare mission on SpaceX’s Falcon 9—a reusable launch vehicle—the satellite demonstrates the growing commercialization and efficiency of space access. Its launch highlights advancements in miniaturized spacecraft design, enabling broader participation in space exploration by universities, startups, and smaller organizations.  

## Notable For  
- Being a CubeSat, exemplifying modular and compact satellite design.  
- Launching on SpaceX’s Falcon 9, a pioneering reusable rocket system.  
- Having a documented COSPAR ID and satellite catalog number for tracking.  
- Contributing to the trend of shared launch opportunities for small satellites.  

## Body  
### Launch Details  
- **Date**: December 8, 2010.  
- **Vehicle**: SpaceX Falcon 9 (partially reusable orbital launch vehicle).  
- **Location**: Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40, United States.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Type**: CubeSat (composed of 10cm-sided cubic modules).  
- **Identifiers**:  
  - **COSPAR ID**: 2010-066J.  
  - **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 37252.  

### Mission Context  
- The Mayflower’s launch was part of a rideshare mission, a common practice for deploying small satellites cost-effectively.  
- Its deployment aligns with the growing use of CubeSats for technology demonstration, scientific research, and educational projects.  

### Legacy  
- The satellite is recognized in academic and satellite-tracking databases, with sitelinks in Finnish and Latvian Wikipedia entries.  
- Its launch vehicle, the Falcon 9, has since become a cornerstone of SpaceX’s reusable rocket program, reducing the cost of access to space.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report