Manufacturer Planet Labs Operator Planet Labs Spacecraft type 3U CubeSat | Country of origin United States Applications Earth imaging Launch mass 5 kilograms (11 lb) | |
Flock 1 is a US CubeSat satellite constellation launched on 9 January 2014. The satellite is built in 3U CubeSat bus, and each constellation consist of 28 satellites. All instruments are powered by solar cells mounted on the spacecraft body and triple-folded wings, providing approximately 20 W maximal power.
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Launch
Flock 1 constellation was launched from Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Launch Pad 0, US, on 9 January 2014 by a Antares 120 rocket. The satellites were deployed from ISS from 11 February, 2014 to 28 February, 2014.
Another Flock start in January 2015 on a Falcon 9 launch vehicle.
Mission
The satellite is intended for commercial Earth observation service. For this purpose, each satellite is equipped with a camera capable of 3-to-5-meter (9.8 to 16.4 ft) ground resolution. Details of intended service by individual satellites were never released publicly and are largely unknown.