# SOMP

> German technology demonstration satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q14152740](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14152740)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/somp

## Summary
SOMP (Student's Oxygen Measurement Project) is a German technology demonstration satellite and CubeSat operated by the TUD Dresden University of Technology. Launched on April 19, 2013, aboard a Soyuz-2.1a rocket, this 1-kilogram spacecraft was designed to test experimental technologies in Earth's orbit.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** SOMP is a CubeSat (a miniaturized satellite made of 10cm-sided cubic modules) and a technology demonstration spacecraft.
- **Launch Date:** April 19, 2013, at 10:00:00 UTC.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Soyuz-2.1a (rocket).
- **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31.
- **Operator & Manufacturer:** TUD Dresden University of Technology (Germany).
- **Mass:** 1 kilogram.
- **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 2013-015F; SATCAT (SCN) 39135.
- **Successor:** SOMP 2, described as a failed German technology demonstration and amateur radio satellite.
- **Origin:** Germany.

## FAQs
### Q: What does SOMP stand for?
A: SOMP is an acronym for the **Student's Oxygen Measurement Project**. It serves as a German technology demonstration satellite.

### Q: When and how was SOMP launched?
A: SOMP was launched on **April 19, 2013**, at 10:00:00 UTC. It was delivered to orbit by a **Soyuz-2.1a** rocket launching from **Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31**.

### Q: Who built the SOMP satellite?
A: The satellite was manufactured and is operated by the **TUD Dresden University of Technology** in Germany.

## Why It Matters
SOMP represents a significant application of the CubeSat standard for academic and technological research. Weighing only 1 kilogram, the satellite demonstrates the capability of university institutions, specifically the TUD Dresden University of Technology, to design, manufacture, and operate viable spacecraft for low-Earth orbit missions.

As a technology demonstration spacecraft, SOMP serves as a proof-of-concept platform, allowing researchers to test experimental components in the harsh environment of space without the massive costs associated with traditional, larger satellites. The mission provided critical data and operational experience that paved the way for future projects, such as its successor, SOMP 2. Its launch as part of a larger mission aboard a Soyuz-2.1a rocket also highlights the increasing accessibility of space for secondary academic payloads.

## Notable For
- **Academic Spaceflight:** A successful example of a university-built and operated spacecraft (TUD Dresden University of Technology).
- **Miniaturization:** Utilization of the CubeSat form factor, weighing only 1 kilogram.
- **Technology Demonstration:** Specifically designed to validate experimental technologies in orbit.
- **Specific Orbital Identity:** Tracked under COSPAR ID 2013-015F and SCN 39135.

## Body
### Mission Overview
SOMP is an artificial satellite of the Earth classified as a technology demonstration spacecraft. The project is an initiative of the TUD Dresden University of Technology in Germany. The satellite's alias, Student's Oxygen Measurement Project, suggests a specific research focus regarding oxygen measurement, housed within a miniaturized platform.

### Technical Specifications
The spacecraft is a **CubeSat**, defined by its standardized unit size roughly equivalent to a 10 cm cube. The specific mass of SOMP is recorded as exactly **1 kilogram**. This miniaturization allows for cost-effective launches as secondary payloads.

### Launch and Deployment
SOMP was launched on **April 19, 2013**. The launch took place at **10:00:00** UTC from the **Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31**, a major spaceport located in Kazakhstan. The launch vehicle used to deploy the satellite was the **Soyuz-2.1a**, a version of the Russian Soyuz-2 rocket. This specific launch event is cataloged as a significant event in the satellite's operational timeline.

### Identifiers and Cataloging
The satellite is tracked internationally under specific identifiers to facilitate orbital monitoring:
- **COSPAR ID:** 2013-015F
- **SATCAT (SCN):** 39135
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/128dgm80y

### Legacy
SOMP was followed by a successor mission, **SOMP 2**. Sources indicate that SOMP 2 was a German technology demonstration and amateur radio satellite, but it is classified as a "failed" mission.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "SOMP",
  "description": "German technology demonstration satellite and CubeSat operated by TUD Dresden University of Technology.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1169525",
    "https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOMP"
  ],
  "additionalType": "CubeSat"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/somp.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report