# ÑuSat 3

> Earth observation satellite of the Aleph constellation

**Wikidata**: [Q78808061](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q78808061)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/nusat-3

## Summary
ÑuSat 3, also known as Milanesat, is an Argentine Earth observation satellite and a component of the commercial Aleph constellation. Manufactured and operated by the company Satellogic, it was successfully launched on June 15, 2017, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Weighing approximately 37.5 kilograms, it serves as part of a network designed to provide high-frequency geographic data.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** ÑuSat 3 is an Earth observation satellite and part of the ÑuSat series (NewSat 3).
*   **Operator & Manufacturer:** The satellite is operated and was manufactured by Satellogic.
*   **Launch Date:** June 15, 2017, at 03:00 (launch vehicle: Long March 4B, serial Y31).
*   **Launch Site:** Jiuquan Launch Complex 43/94 in China.
*   **Orbital IDs:** COSPAR ID is 2017-034C; NSSDCA ID is 2017-034C; SCN is 42760.
*   **Physical Specifications:** The satellite has a mass of 37.5 kg, a length of 75 cm, a width of 40 cm, and a height of 43 cm.
*   **Power Source:** It is powered by solar cell panels.
*   **Constellation:** It is part of the Aleph constellation (Aleph-1 3).
*   **Nickname:** It is nicknamed "Milanesat" and is named after the milanesa, a popular dish.

## FAQs
### Q: What is ÑuSat 3?
A: ÑuSat 3 is an Earth observation satellite from Argentina. It forms part of the Aleph constellation, which is designed to observe the Earth from orbit for commercial purposes.

### Q: Why is ÑuSat 3 nicknamed "Milanesat"?
A: The satellite is nicknamed "Milanesat" because it is named after the milanesa, a breaded meat dish popular in Argentina and surrounding regions.

### Q: When and how was ÑuSat 3 launched?
A: ÑuSat 3 launched on June 15, 2017, atop a Long March 4B rocket (serial Y31) from the Jiuquan Launch Complex 43/94 in China.

## Why It Matters
ÑuSat 3 represents a critical step in the deployment of the Aleph constellation, Argentina's initiative to establish a sovereign and commercial presence in the Earth observation market. As a microsatellite weighing less than 40 kg, it demonstrates the capability of Satellogic to deploy cost-effective, high-resolution imaging hardware that rivals larger, traditional satellites. By contributing to the Aleph constellation, ÑuSat 3 enables high-frequency revisits of specific locations on Earth, supporting applications in agriculture, monitoring, and disaster response.

The satellite also highlights the international nature of the commercial space industry; while designed and manufactured in Argentina by Satellogic, it was launched aboard a Chinese Long March 4B rocket. The naming of the satellite after "milanesa" reflects the cultural identity integrated into the mission by its Argentine operators.

## Notable For
*   **Cultural Naming:** It is distinctively named after the milanesa dish, reflecting its Argentine origin.
*   **Constellation Role:** It serves as the third unit in the ÑuSat series (Aleph-1 3) aimed at building a global Earth observation network.
*   **Microsatellite Class:** It packs significant observation capability into a small form factor (37.5 kg), distinguishing it from larger, bus-sized satellites.
*   **Launch Profile:** It shared a ride-share launch aboard a Long March 4B rocket, a common practice for deploying commercial microsatellites.

## Body

### Mission and Ownership
ÑuSat 3 is an Earth observation satellite classified under the ÑuSat series of commercial satellites. It is owned and operated by **Satellogic**, a company specializing in high-resolution geographic data collection. The satellite is a component of the **Aleph constellation**, a network of satellites designed to provide real-time imaging of the Earth.

### Physical Specifications
The satellite features a rectangular microsatellite bus design suitable for CubeSat-class deployments:
*   **Mass:** 37.5 kilograms
*   **Length:** 75 centimetres
*   **Width:** 40 centimetres
*   **Height:** 43 centimetres
*   **Power:** Operations are supported by solar cell panels.

### Launch and Deployment
ÑuSat 3 was deployed during a significant rocket launch event on **June 15, 2017**.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** The satellite was carried into orbit by a **Long March 4B** rocket (serial number Y31), a Chinese orbital carrier rocket.
*   **Launch Site:** The mission originated from **Jiuquan Launch Complex 43/94**.
*   **Timeline:** The launch occurred at 03:00 (UTC).

### Identifiers
To track the satellite within global space catalogs, ÑuSat 3 is assigned the following identifiers:
*   **COSPAR ID:** 2017-034C
*   **NSSDCA ID:** 2017-034C
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 42760

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Source](https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/space/workshops/2017-Bariloche/Presentations/30%20-%20Adrian%20Sinclair-%20Satellogic.pdf)
3. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/nusat-1.htm)