# ZACube-1
*missions*

## Specifications
- **operator**: cput
- **actual launch**: 2013-11-21
- **launch vehicle**: dnepr
- **tasking supported**: false
- **platform**: zacube-1-1u-bus
- **orbit type**: LEO; CelesTrak 535 x 592 km, 97.81 deg as of 2026-06-21
- **current status**: operational
- **current geographic priority**: Space-weather and ionospheric research; SANAE-IV radar calibration support
- **entity type**: mission
- **last verified date**: 2026-06-21
- **verified by**: community
- **claim status**: unclaimed
- **provider**: cput
- **attributes**: {"operator":"cput","actual_launch":"2013-11-21","launch_vehicle":"dnepr","tasking_supported":false,"platform":"zacube-1-1u-bus","orbit_type":"LEO; CelesTrak 535 x 592 km, 97.81 deg as of 2026-06-21","current_status":"operational","current_geographic_priority":"Space-weather and ionospheric research; SANAE-IV radar calibration support"}
- **relevance**: ancillary

## Editorial
ZACube-1, also known as TshepisoSat, is a South African 1U CubeSat launched on 2013-11-21 on Dnepr from Dombarovsky/Yasny.[^gunter-zacube-1] The mission carries an HF beacon transmitter for ionosphere characterisation and auroral radar calibration, along with a low-resolution CMOS camera.[^gunter-zacube-1] It remains in low Earth orbit at about 535 x 592 km, supporting space-weather and ionospheric research rather than a conventional imaging production mission.[^celestrak-zacube-1][^gunter-zacube-1] Its platform was developed as a 1U CubeSat under a South African university satellite programme.[^cput-home][^gunter-zacube-1]

## Compositional position
- ZACube-1 --[mission_payloads]--> zacube-1-cmos-camera (products)
- ZACube-1 --[mission_payloads]--> zacube-1-hf-beacon (products)
- ZACube-1 --[mission_buses]--> zacube-1-1u-bus (products)

## Sources
- [celestrak-zacube-1] | CelesTrak SATCAT record for ZACube-1 | https://celestrak.org/satcat/records.php?CATNR=39417 | tier=community | accessed=2026-06-21
- [gunter-zacube-1] | ZACUBE 1 (TshepisoSat, ZA 003), Gunter Space Page | https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/zacube-1.htm | tier=third-party | accessed=2026-06-21
- [cput-home] | Cape Peninsula University of Technology | https://www.cput.ac.za/ | tier=operator-marketing | accessed=2026-06-21

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Source: https://eo-atlas.org/missions/zacube-1
Maintainer: SpectraWorks B.V. (CC-BY 4.0)