Loading AI tools
Nanosatellite From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cosmic X-ray Background Nanosatellite-2 (CXBN-2 or CXBN 2) was a satellite and mission developed by the Morehead State University to follow up on the CXBN mission launched in 2012. It was an improved version of the previous spacecraft and it increased the precision of measurements of the cosmic X-ray background in the 30-50 keV range and helped to improve understanding of the early universe.[5][6]
![]() Deployment of CXBN-2 with IceCube | |
Mission type | X-ray astronomy |
---|---|
Operator | Morehead State University |
COSPAR ID | 1998-067LM[1] |
SATCAT no. | 42704[2] |
Website | CXBN-2 |
Mission duration | April 18, 2017 – March 1, 2019 |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | CXBN-2 |
Spacecraft type | 2U CubeSat |
Manufacturer | Morehead State University |
Dry mass | 2.8kg |
Dimensions | 10 x 10 x 20 cm |
Power | 15W |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | April 18, 2017 |
Rocket | ULA Atlas-5 401 |
Launch site | Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41 |
Contractor | United Launch Alliance via ELaNa |
Deployed from | International Space Station |
Deployment date | May 16, 2017 |
End of mission | |
Disposal | Re-entry |
Last contact | March 1, 2019[3] |
Decay date | March 1, 2019 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Low Earth |
Altitude | ~400 kilometres (250 mi)[4] |
Inclination | 51.6°[4] |
Transponders | |
Band | UHF, S band |
Instruments | |
Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) detector, magnetometer | |
The CXBN-2 mission was created in order to map the extragalactic cosmic X-ray background with the use of a Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) detector. Compared to its predecessor, its CZT detector had twice the detection area. It allowed for a new, high-precision measurement of the X-ray background.[4] It helped improve understanding of the origin and evolution of the universe through research on high-energy background radiation. It collected 3 million seconds of data throughout its lifetime.[5]
The CXBN-2 satellite was a Sun-pointing spin-stabilized 2U CubeSat which had four solar panels which provided 15W of power. It had a 2-wall structure and braces to reinforce its body. When it was in its compact form, it occupied a volume of 10 x 10 x 20cm.
It had two transceivers in the Ultra high frequency and S bands for radio communication.[4]
CXBN-2 contained a Cadmium Zinc Telluride Array as its X-ray detector and a magnetometer on board.[4]
Cygnus OA-7 launched on April 18, 2017 as the eighth flight of the Cygnus Orbital ATK uncrewed orbital spacecraft and its seventh flight to the International Space Station (ISS) under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services.[7] On April 22, 2017, the Cygnus spacecraft docked with the ISS.[8]
On May 16, 2017, the CXBN-2 satellite was deployed from the ISS via the Nanoracks CubeSat Deployer along with several other CubeSats.[9] On March 1, 2019, it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere.[3]
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.