Unicorn 2A [Alba Orbital]
Official name UNICORN-2D
Alternative name Unicorn-2D
Cospar ID 2022-002BA
Norad ID 51032
Launch date 2022-01-13
Launch site AFETR
Launch vehicle Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5)
Country/Organization UK
Type application Technology
Operator Alba Orbital
RCS size SMALL
Decay date 2023-04-13
Shape Box + 2 Pan
Mass (kg) 0.75
Height (m) 0.15
Width (m) 0.05
Depth (m) 0.05
Span (m^2) 0.45
Lifetime 45 days
Contractors Alba Orbital
Propulsion None
Configuration PocketQube (3P)
Power Solar cells, batteries

The Unicorn 2A mission is a picosatellite developped by Alba Orbital to the 3P PocketQube form factor.

The mission of Unicorn-2a is primarily a tech demo of an Optical payload, with 16m GSD. It will have a ground to LEO radio in the UHF amateur bands at 437 Mhz and 2.4 Ghz (both uplink and downlink) to receive telemetry beacons because the mission is so short, less than 45 days.

Unicorn 2A was planned to be launched on the maiden flight of the small Vector-R launch vehicle in late 2019 from Kodiak, but did not take place due to Vector dropping out of business.

The Unicorn 2G and 2H were carried on board of the Orbiter SN1 orbital transfer vehicle on a Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5). Orbiter SN1 suffered a power failure in orbit, which prevented the satellites from being deployed.

Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
UNICORN-2D 2022-002BA 2022-01-13 AFETR Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) with Umbra 02, Capella 7, 8, ICEYE X14, X16, Sich 2-1, ION-SCV 004, Dodona, STORK 1, 2, LabSat, SW1FT, VZLUSAT 2, ETV A1, BRO 5, HYPSO 1, Kepler 16, ..., 19, Flock-4x 1, ..., 44, Lemur-2 148, 149, 150, Lemur-2 146, 147, DEWA-Sat 1, NuX 1, IRIS A, MDASat 1a, 1b, 1c, Gossamer Piccolomini, Tevel 1, ..., 8, Challenger, Delfi-PQ 1, Unicorn 2A, 2D, 2E, FossaSat 2E1, ..., 2E6, MDQube-SAT 1, SATLLA 2A, 2B, Unicorn 1, EASAT 2, HADES, Grizu-263a, PION-BR 1, SanoSat 1, Tartan-Artibeus 1, USA 320, ..., 323