Spei Satelles (or SpeiSat) is the first Vatican satellite, it consists of a 3U cubesat and was launched in 2023 by a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base on a rideshare mission.[1][2]

Spei Satelles (SpeiSat)
OperatorAgenzia Spaziale Italiana
COSPAR ID2023-084-BT
SATCAT no.56991
Websitehttps://www.speisatelles.org/en
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerPolitecnico di Torino
Payload mass3Kg
Start of mission
Launch dateJune 12, 2023, 21:35:00 (2023-06-12UTC21:35) UTC
RocketFalcon 9 Block 5
Launch siteSLC-4E Vandenberg SFB
Deployed fromION-SCV 011
Orbital parameters
RegimeSSO
Eccentricity0.0469
Periapsis altitude470
Apoapsis altitude481
Inclination97.5°
Period7 days

The satellite was created by the Politecnico di Torino and promoted by the Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See with coordination from the Italian space agency (ASI).[3]

The mission logo was created by the students and teachers of the IUSVE Salesian University Institute in Venice.

Payloads

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SpeiSat hosts 2 on-board computers, a battery, small magnets to stabilize the satellite and 2 UHF transmitters in order to broadcast messages from Pope Francis on a 437.5 MHz frequency.[citation needed]

The satellite also contains a nanobook created by the National Research Council (CNR) with the Holy Father's book in his shell and a file containing messages and images of the 2020 Statio Orbis written in binary due to the small dimensions.[citation needed]

See also

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SPEI Satelles Team

References

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  1. ^ "Spei Satelles (SpeiSat)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  2. ^ "SPEI SATELLES - Satellite Information". www.heavens-above.com. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  3. ^ "Spei satelles, lanciate nello spazio le parole del Papa - Vatican News". www.vaticannews.va (in Italian). 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2024-07-19.