CXBN
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| Mission type | X-ray astronomy |
|---|---|
| Operator | MSU |
| COSPAR ID | 2012-048E[1] |
| SATCAT no. | 38762 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | CXBN |
| Spacecraft type | 2U CubeSat |
| Manufacturer | MSU |
| Dry mass | 2.6kg[1] |
| Dimensions | 10 x 10 x 20cm[2] |
| Power | 15W |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | September 13, 2012[3] |
| Rocket | Atlas V 401 |
| Launch site | VAFB Launch Complex 3[2] |
| Contractor | United Launch Alliance |
| Deployed from | Poly-Picosatellite Orbital Deployer |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Re-entry |
| Last contact | January 2013 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Periapsis altitude | 460 kilometres (290 mi) |
| Apoapsis altitude | 770 kilometres (480 mi) |
| Inclination | 64° |
| Instruments | |
| Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) array | |
Cosmic X-ray Background Nanosatellite (CXBN) was a satellite and mission developed by Morehead State University. Unlike its successor, it was a partial failure as its transmissions were too weak for its mission due to it going into an anomalous low power mode.[1] It was supposed to take measurements of the cosmic X-ray background in the 30–50 keV range and temporarily supplement NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes.[4]
Design
The CXBN CubeSat occupied a volume of 10 × 10 × 20 cm (3.9 × 3.9 × 7.9 in) when in its compact form. It had four deployable solar panels. Morehead State University (MSU) engineered its subsystems, while the CZT detector was designed by the University of California at Berkeley and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. It also contained Sun sensors for its spin stabilization.[2]
Instruments
CXBN contained a Cadmium Zinc Telluride array to allow for the mapping of the cosmic X-ray background.[2]
