# UKube 1

> 40074

**Wikidata**: [Q60847483](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q60847483)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ukube-1

## Summary
UKube 1 is a British CubeSat launched in 2014 to demonstrate new space technologies and inspire student involvement in space science. As the first CubeSat built in the UK, it carried instruments to study radiation and magnetism in low Earth orbit. The satellite was designed and constructed by students and researchers from UK universities, supported by the UK Space Agency and ESA’s Education Office.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: July 8, 2014
- **Launch Vehicle**: Soyuz-2.1b rocket
- **COSPAR ID**: 2014-037F
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 40074
- **Classification**: CubeSat (10 cm³ modular structure) and artificial satellite
- **Launch Site**: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
- **Mission Duration**: Primary mission concluded in 2015
- **Payload**: Included a magnetometer, radiation detector, and experimental solar sensors

## FAQs
### Q: When was UKube 1 launched?
A: UKube 1 was launched on July 8, 2014, aboard a Soyuz-2.1b rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

### Q: What was the purpose of UKube 1?
A: The satellite aimed to test new space technologies, study radiation and magnetism in orbit, and demonstrate the capability of student-built CubeSats for scientific research.

### Q: Who built UKube 1?
A: UKube 1 was designed and constructed by students and researchers from UK universities, with support from the UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency’s Education Office.

## Why It Matters
UKube 1 is significant as the first CubeSat to be built in the UK, showcasing the country’s emerging capabilities in small satellite technology. The mission provided hands-on experience for students, bridging academic research with real-world space engineering. By testing novel instruments like a radiation detector and magnetometer, UKube 1 contributed to understanding the space environment and paved the way for future low-cost, educational satellite projects. Its success highlighted the potential of CubeSats for scientific discovery and inspired subsequent generations of engineers and scientists in the UK and globally.

## Notable For
- First CubeSat designed and built in the UK.
- Carried experiments developed by students from multiple UK universities.
- Demonstrated the feasibility of low-cost, educational satellite missions.
- Included a “FunCube” payload enabling public engagement through signal reception by amateur radio operators.

## Body
### Launch and Deployment
UKube 1 launched on July 8, 2014, at 15:15 UTC aboard a Soyuz-2.1b rocket from Site 31/6 at Baikonur Cosmodrome. It was deployed into a 600 km Sun-synchronous orbit as part of a rideshare mission with other satellites.

### Design and Payload
- **Structure**: Classified as a 1U CubeSat (10 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm).
- **Instruments**:
  - A magnetometer to measure Earth’s magnetic field.
  - A radiation detector to study particle flux in orbit.
  - Experimental solar sensors to test new power generation technologies.
  - A “FunCube” transmitter for educational outreach.

### Mission Objectives
- **Technology Demonstration**: Validate the performance of UK-built CubeSat systems in space.
- **Scientific Research**: Collect data on radiation and magnetic field variations in low Earth orbit.
- **Education**: Provide students with practical experience in satellite design, launch, and operations.

### Legacy
UKube 1 concluded its primary mission in 2015 but remained operational until contact was lost later that year. The project demonstrated the viability of student-led space missions and influenced the development of subsequent UK CubeSats, such as the TechDemoSat-1 and the ESA’s CubeSat education program. Its legacy includes advancing small satellite innovation and fostering international collaboration in space education.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report