Mandrake 1 [Astro Digital]
Official name CORVUS BC5
Alternative name CORVUS BC5
Cospar ID 2020-085C
Norad ID 46931
Launch date 2020-11-20
Launch site RLLC
Launch vehicle Electron KS (R)
Country/Organization USA
Type application Technology
Operator DARPA
RCS size MEDIUM
Decay date 2024-03-28
Shape Box + 2 Pan
Mass (kg) 10
Height (m) 0.3
Width (m) 0.2
Depth (m) 0.2
Contractors SEAKR (payload); Astro Digital (bus)
Configuration CubeSat (6U)
Power Solar cells, batteries

Mandrake 1, also known by the manufacturers designation Corvus-BC 5, is a technology demonstration mission conducted under DARPA's Blackjack program as a risk-reduction mission.

Mandrake 1 is a CubeSat that carries supercomputer processing chips. The satellite used the bus of the cancelled Landmapper-BC 5.

The launch was planned for early 2021 on the SpaceX multi satellite mission "Transporter 1". When the Mandrake 1 and Mandrake 2 satellites were to be mounted on the payload stack, the deployment mechanism was accidently activated, which led to damage to both payloads. Mandrake 1 was eventually launched on an Electron KS (R).

Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
CORVUS BC5 2020-085C 2020-11-20 RLLC Electron KS (R) with Dragracer A, Dragracer B, BRO 2, BRO 3, SpaceBEE 22, ..., 39, SpaceBEENZ 1, ..., 6, APSS 1, Gnome Chompski