QBITO, the first Cubesat by Universidad Politécnica de Madrid was deployed last Thursday 25th of May, from the International Space Station (ISS). This Cubesat will study the lower thermosphere during the next 6 months as part of the European project QB50.
The QB50 mission consists of a network of 36 CubeSats that will study the properties of the lower thermosphere. QBITO was deployed from the ISS at an initial circular orbit of 420 km altitude and 51° inclination. Due to atmospheric drag, its orbit will decay until the spacecraft burn in the atmosphere approximately in 6 months.
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News
18
May2017
Seedling Growth-3 is the third part of the Seedling Growth Experiment series, using the plant Arabidopsis thaliana to investigate the effects of gravity on the cellular signaling mechanisms of light sensing in plants (phototropism), and to investigate cell growth and proliferation responses to light stimulation under microgravity conditions. The investigation also seeks to determine:
the red light effect on blue-light-based phototropism and its effects
the alterations in red-light-based phototropism of plants defective in essential components of auxin transport or lacking essential factors of cell growth and proliferation,
the effects of a red light photostimulation on cell growth and proliferation under ... Read More
18 May, 2017E-USOC
10
Jan2017
After a year of intense work, both teams from E-USOC have come back with a big amount of promising results and a magnificent experience. “We are really satisfied with the work done and, despite of last minute problems and some unexpected surprises, we are pleased with the outcomes”, both teams asseverate.
Images from the parabolic flights. Source: NoveSpace
Convection, a well-known phenomenon on Earth and used in several applications, disappears in weightless environments. In this sense, the solid-liquid interface of a system evolves in a larger timescale and thus, it complicates heat evacuation. In the presence of a free surface, however, a ... Read More
10 January, 2017E-USOC
26
Sep2016
SODI-DCMIX experiment continues with a new science campaign. SODI was comfortably stowed in Columbus while other experiments did their duties in MSG and now it is SODI´s time again! Astronaut Kate Rubins (#AstroKate) brought SODI and DCMIX cells back from their inactivity and started the installation. After an almost 3 hour set up activity, Kate managed to put all things together and woke SODI up again. Silent space radiation could have damaged SODI software during its rest and that´s why USB recovery was prepared and launched to the Station on 18 July. However, this was not the case since SODI started ... Read More
26 September, 2016E-USOC
10
Feb2016
As a gateway to space, the European Space Agency (ESA) promotes educational an scientific programs that provide benefits to European an worldwide citizens. The Fly Your Thesis! Program by the European Space Agency ‘s Educational Program is one of them. After a period of inactivity, it will be back to provide the opportunity for master and PhD students to try their experiments in a microgravity environment.
Gravity is the great force of nature that keeps us with both feet on ground. One way to cancel out its effect is by experiencing a parabolic flight. In these flights, pilots perform a complex ... Read More
10 February, 2016E-USOC