Credit:NASA 3UCubed

3UCubed launched and deployed!

3UCubed launched and deployed successfully from Space-X/Transporter-15 on 2025 November 28 onto a Sun-Synchronous orbit at ~520 km altitude. At this time, we haven’t been able to communicate with the CubeSat directly. Both the Sonoma State University and UNH ground stations (on the roof of Morse Hall) have been picking up signals from other satellites transmitting at frequencies close to 3UCubed's downlink frequency of 437.01 MHz. These signals confirm that both ground stations work.

We have a few hypotheses regarding why we have yet to receive a signal from 3UCubed: either a failure of the antenna deployment or a systems-wide failure (power system). After 30 days without contact, the CubeSat, if the OnBoard Computer (OBC) is functioning, is programmed to go into automatic ADCS commissioning. At the start of the automated ADCS commissioning, the antenna deployment is set to be attempted again. Upon completion of auto-commissioning, the OBC contains commands to reboot automatically every 24 hours. Upon each reboot, the OBC programs check the antenna deployment. The antenna is the only deployable. Simulations indicate that CubeSat is power positive in all orientations, even while tumbling. It should be broadcasting beacons every 60 seconds.