TuPOD [GAUSS]
Official name TUPOD
Alternative name TuPOD
Cospar ID 1998-067KY
Norad ID 41936
Launch date 1998-11-20
Launch site TTMTR
Launch vehicle H-2B-304
Country/Organization Italy
Type application Technology, satellite deployment
Operator Gauss Srl.
RCS size SMALL
Decay date 2017-09-08
Shape Box
Mass (kg) 2
Height (m) 0.3
Width (m) 0.1
Depth (m) 0.3
Span (m^2) 0.3
Lifetime 8 days
Contractors Gauss Srl.
Equipment Tubesat deployer
Propulsion None
Configuration CubeSat (3U)
Power Batteries

TuPOD is nanosatellite built by Gauss Srl. to deploy two TubeSats class picosatellites after being deployed from the ISS.

The TuPOD 3U mission will allow the in orbit deployment of the first TubeSats: Tancredo 1, from Brazil and OSNSAT, from Open Space Network, a Californian space company. From a technical point of view the satellite represents an innovation since its structure has been completely 3D printed. TuPOD's structure was constructed utilizing industrial 3D Printing using Windform XT 2.0 material, as first used in the ill-fated PrintSat.

TuPOD will integrate the two satellites inside a 3U CubeSat structure designed to allow the coupling between TubeSat and JSSOD launch mechanism on the ISS. The TuPOD will release the two satellites after three days, in accordance with NASA safety requirements. After the tubesat deployment, TuPOD will perform its own mission transmitting a Morse code beacon for a few days and some weeks later it will re-enter the atmosphere, disintegrating.

The satellite was launched on board of HTV 6 on an H-2B-304 rocket to be delivered to the ISS, from where it was deployed on 16 January 2017. On 20 January 2016 TuPod deployed the two TubeSats. It operated for 8 days until the batterries

Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
TUPOD 1998-067KY 1998-11-20 TTMTR H-2B-304 with HTV 6, EDT, Lemur-2 18, ..., 21, TechEdSat 5, EGG, AOBA-VELOX 3, STARS C, FREEDOM, ITF 2, Waseda-SAT 3, OSNSAT, Tancredo 1