3Cat 2 [UPC]
Official name 3CAT-2
Alternative name 3Cat-2
Cospar ID 2016-051B
Norad ID 41732
Launch date 2016-08-15
Launch site JSC
Launch vehicle CZ-2D (2)
Country/Organization Spain
Type application Technology
Operator Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña (UPC)
RCS size MEDIUM
Decay date 2023-12-18
Shape Box
Mass (kg) 7.1
Height (m) 0.341
Width (m) 0.1
Depth (m) 0.341
Span (m^2) 0.341
Contractors Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña (UPC)
Equipment PYCARO
Propulsion None
Configuration CubeSat (6U)
Power Solar cells, batteries

3Cat 2 is a 6U CubeSat developed at the Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña (UPC) to demonstrate a novel dual frequency (L1+L2) GNSS-R altimeter/scatterometer and GNSS-RO.

The mission is designed to perform ocean altimetry by means of Global Navigation Satellite Systems Reflectometry (GNSS-R). The main payload is the novel dual-band altimeter P(Y) & C/A ReflectOmeter (PYCARO) which has been designed and manufactured at UPC?s Remote Sensing Lab and NanoSat Lab. It also integrates the Mirabilis Star Tracker, an experimental star tracker for attitude determination and the AMR eLISA magnetometer designed and manufactured at IEEC for the future ESA?s LISA mission.

Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
3CAT-2 2016-051B 2016-08-15 JSC CZ-2D (2) with QSS, Lixing 1