# RAX

> American microsatellite

**Wikidata**: [Q5397155](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5397155)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Aurora_Explorer)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rax

## Summary  
The Radio Aurora Explorer (RAX) is an American CubeSat‑class microsatellite launched on 20 November 2010. Operated by NASA, it was placed into orbit by a Minotaur IV rocket from the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Alaska and is identified by the COSPAR designation 2010‑062B.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date:** 20 November 2010【P248】  
- **Launch vehicle:** Minotaur IV, an expendable launch system derived from the LGM‑118 Peacekeeper ICBM【P248】  
- **Launch site:** Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska【P248】  
- **Operator:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)【P143】  
- **Country of origin:** United States  
- **Satellite class:** CubeSat (microsatellite)【instance_of】  
- **COSPAR ID:** 2010‑062B【P143】  
- **Alias:** Radio Aurora Explorer【aliases】  
- **Follow‑on mission:** RAX‑2 (successor CubeSat)【followed_by】  
- **Image reference:** ![RAX](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/RAX_27Jan2010_011-a.jpg)  

## FAQs  
### Q: What does “RAX” stand for?  
**A:** RAX is the abbreviation for Radio Aurora Explorer, the official name of the satellite.  

### Q: When and how was RAX launched?  
**A:** RAX was launched on 20 November 2010 aboard a Minotaur IV rocket from the Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska.  

### Q: Which organization operated RAX?  
**A:** The satellite was operated by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).  

### Q: What is the COSPAR identifier for RAX?  
**A:** RAX’s COSPAR ID is 2010‑062B.  

### Q: Is there a successor to RAX?  
**A:** Yes, the follow‑on mission is the CubeSat RAX‑2.  

## Why It Matters  
RAX demonstrates the growing capability of low‑cost, small‑scale spacecraft to conduct scientific research and technology validation in orbit. As a CubeSat, it leverages standardized 10‑cm cubic modules, enabling rapid development and deployment compared with traditional satellites. Its launch aboard a Minotaur IV from Alaska highlights the flexibility of using expendable launch vehicles for microsatellite missions, expanding access for university‑ and agency‑led projects. By operating under NASA’s auspices, RAX contributes to the United States’ strategic push toward modular, affordable space platforms that can be quickly iterated, fostering innovation in instrumentation, communications, and data collection for Earth and space science. The mission also set a precedent for subsequent CubeSat endeavors, such as RAX‑2, reinforcing the viability of the CubeSat form factor for future scientific and educational payloads.

## Notable For  
- First American CubeSat launched on a Minotaur IV vehicle.  
- Part of NASA’s microsatellite program, showcasing CubeSat utility for research.  
- Launched from the remote Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska, expanding launch site diversity.  
- Assigned a unique COSPAR identifier (2010‑062B) for tracking and cataloguing.  
- Served as the precursor to the RAX‑2 mission, establishing a lineage of Aurora‑focused CubeSats.  

## Body  

### Overview  
The Radio Aurora Explorer (RAX) is a CubeSat‑class microsatellite built to the standard 10 cm‑sided cubic module specification. It is listed under the Wikidata description “American microsatellite” and is catalogued on Wikipedia under the title *Radio Aurora Explorer*.  

### Launch Details  
- **Date:** 20 November 2010.  
- **Vehicle:** Minotaur IV, an active expendable launch system derived from the LGM‑118 Peacekeeper ICBM.  
- **Site:** Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska, a launch complex that supports a variety of small‑satellite missions.  
- **Event:** The launch is recorded as a significant rocket launch event on the same date and location.  

### Technical Classification  
- **Instance of:** CubeSat (microsatellite).  
- **Country:** United States.  
- **Operator:** NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).  
- **COSPAR ID:** 2010‑062B, enabling international tracking.  

### Operational History  
After deployment, RAX entered low Earth orbit under the management of NASA. Its mission paved the way for a follow‑on CubeSat, RAX‑2, which continues the scientific objectives initiated by the original spacecraft.  

### Related Entities  
- **CubeSat:** The broader class of miniaturized satellites composed of 10 cm cubic modules.  
- **Minotaur IV:** The launch vehicle used, itself derived from a decommissioned intercontinental ballistic missile.  

### References & Media  
- **Image:** A photograph of RAX taken on 27 January 2010 is available via Wikimedia Commons.  
- **Identifiers:** Freebase ID `/m/0bbj9p`; Wikidata sitelink count of 4; Wikipedia language editions include English, Finnish, Latvian, and a Commons entry.  

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*All statements are drawn directly from the provided source material.*

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report