Official name NARSSCUBE-2
Alternative name NARSScube-2
Cospar ID 2019-022E
Norad ID 44415
Launch date 2019-04-17
Launch site WLPIS
Launch vehicle Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5)
Country/Organization Egypt
Type application Technology
Operator NARSS
RCS size SMALL
Decay date 2024-04-09
Shape Box
Mass (kg) 1
Height (m) 0.1
Width (m) 0.1
Depth (m) 0.1
Lifetime 1 year
Contractors NARSS
Equipment Camera
Propulsion None
Configuration CubeSat (1U)
Power Solar cells, batteries

NARSScube 1, formerly known as Egycubesat 1, is the first Egyptian CubeSat developed by NARSS (National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences).

The NARSScube 1 mission goals are:

  • to provide experience in building operating a picosatellite
  • Technology demonstration to show NARSScube 1 can produce reliable data from space
  • Promote the applied research in space engineering in the Egyptian universities and research Institutes

The satellite carries a small camera with a ground resolution of 100 meter to take snapshots for Egypt territories.

Originally a piggy-back launch on a Japanese H-2A-202 rocket with Planet C in 2010 was planned, but did not take place. In 2013, a launch on an Indian PSLV rocket was planned. In 2017, the project was restarted as NARSScube 1. The satellite was launched on board of HTV 8 to the ISS, where it was deployed on 20 November 2019.

A second identical satellite, NARSScube 2, was built. It was originally to launch on the Cygnus CRS-10 mission to the ISS, but was delayed due to licensing issues. It was launched on board of Dragon CRS-18 and transfered on the ISS to the SEOPS Slingshot deployer on Cygnus CRS-11. It was deployed on 8 August 2019 after Cygnus CRS-11 departing from the ISS.

Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
NARSSCUBE-1 1998-067QX 1998-11-20 TTMTR H-2B-304 with HTV 8, AQT-D, RWASAT 1
NARSSCUBE-2 2019-022E 2019-04-17 WLPIS Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) with Dragon CRS-18, IDA 3, ORCA 1, RFTSat 1, Quantum Radar 3