QARMAN

The mission

The QARMAN mission was a 3U CubeSat for the In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) of a new low-cost small re-entry vehicle capability.

Platform: 3U CubeSat.
Payload: re-entry technologies, including novel heatshield materials and a new passive aerodynamic drag stabilisation system.
Programme: General Support Technology Programme (GSTP).
Contractor: Von Karman Institute.

Mission description

The QubeSat for Aerothermodynamic Research and Measurements on Ablation (QARMAN) was originally planned to be embarked as an IOD CubeSat on the launch of the QB50 constellation, however eventually launched to ISS and deployed into orbit from where its altitude decayed until re-entry. The demonstration included the use and flight testing of novel re-entry heatshield materials and an innovative aerodynamic drag passive attitude stabilisation system as well as the use of Iridium Inter-satellite Links during re-entry in order to transmit re-entry related telemetry before reaching the Earth surface. 

Mission status

Launch: deployed from ISS in February 2020.
Status: re-entry in February 2022.