BHUTAN-1

BHUTAN-1
BHUTAN-1 above Earth
NamesBIRD-BT
Mission typeTechnology demonstration
OperatorKyushu Institute of Technology
COSPAR ID1998-067PF
SATCAT no.43591
Websitebirds2.birds-project.com
Mission duration6-9 months (planned) 27 months (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type1U CubeSat
ManufacturerKyushu Institute of Technology
Launch mass1.11 kg
Dimensions10 × 10 × 11.35 cm
Start of mission
Launch date29 June 2018, 09:42 UTC
RocketFalcon 9 Full Thrust
Launch siteCape Canaveral, SLC-40
ContractorSpaceX
Deployed fromInternational Space Station
Deployment date10 August 2018
End of mission
DisposalDecay from orbit
Decay date18 November 2020
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Periapsis altitude355 km
Apoapsis altitude362 km
Inclination51.64°
Joint Global Multi-Nations Birds Satellite

BHUTAN-1 was the first Bhutanese nanosatellite to be launched into space. The satellite was built during Kyushu Institute of Technology's Birds-2 program. The Birds program helps countries fly their first satellite. BHUTAN-1 was launched into orbit aboard the SpaceX CRS-15 mission on 29 June 2018. It was deployed from the Kibō module of the International Space Station (ISS) on 10 August 2018. The satellite had cameras to image the Earth.