Aalto 1 [Aalto University]
Official name AALTO 1
Alternative name Aalto-1
Cospar ID 2017-036L
Norad ID 42775
Launch date 2017-06-23
Launch site SRI
Launch vehicle PSLV-XL
Country/Organization Finland
Type application Technology, Earth observation
Operator Aalto University
RCS size SMALL
Decay date ON ORBIT
Period (min) 92.32
Inclination (deg) 97.11
Perigee (km) 385
Apogee (km) 391
Eccentricity 0.0077319587628866
Mean motion (revs. per day) 15.5979202772964
Semi-Major axis (km) 6766.135
Raan (deg) 155.9361
Arg of perigee (deg) 29.9765
Shape Box
Mass (kg) 3.9
Height (m) 0.3
Width (m) 0.1
Depth (m) 0.1
Span (m^2) 0.3
Lifetime 2 years
Contractors Aalto University
Propulsion None
Configuration CubeSat (3U)
Power Solar cells, batteries

Aalto 1 is a 3U-CubeSat mission built by the Aalto University of Aalto, Finland. The satellite was built mainly by students in project assignments and thesis work. The satellite project is coordinated by Department of Radio Science and Engineering and supported by Space Technology teaching.

The Aalto-1 mission goals are:

  • To design, build and operate first Finnish Earth Observation (EO) nanosatellite
  • Technology demonstration of a very small imaging spectrometer for spaceborne EO
  • Technology demonstration of a very small radiation detector for future satellites
  • Development and demonstration of a deorbiting device for nanosatellites based on e-sail concept and measurement of its performance
  • Promotion of engineering education in Finland with the aid of a satellite project.
Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
AALTO 1 2017-036L 2017-06-23 SRI PSLV-XL with Cartosat 2E, NIUSAT, CE-SAT 1, Max Valier Sat, Venta 1, CICERO 6, Lemur-2 34, ..., 41, Blue Diamond, Green Diamond, Red Diamond, COMPASS 2, InflateSail, LituanicaSAT 2, URSA MAIOR, NUDTSat, Pegasus, UCLSat, VZLUsat 1, ROBUSTA 1B, SUCHAI, skCUBE, IDEA