QBITO (42728)

COSPAR: 1998-067MH | Alt Name: QBITO
DECAYED

Image
QBITO Satellite Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details

Launch Date

November 20, 1998

Launch Pad

SLC41

Launch Vehicle

Atlas V 401

Orbital Elements

NORAD ID

42728

International Designator

1998-067MH

Decay Date

2/16/2019

Basic Satellite Info

Name

QBITO

Alternative Name

QBITO

Type

Payload

Status

Decayed

Owner

UPM

Country

Spain

Constellation

N/A

Related Satellites

Major Events

N/A

Summary
QBITO is a 2U CubeSat satellite with dimensions of 0.2 meters in length and span, and 0.1 meters in diameter, weighing 2 kilograms at launch. It was launched on November 20, 1998, from the TSMC site using an Atlas V 401 launch vehicle from SLC41. The satellite is owned by UPM (Universitat Politècnica de Madrid) and carries equipment for INMS (Ion-Neutral Mass Spectrometer) technology and thermospheric research purposes. Its power supply comes from solar cells and batteries, and it has a mission lifetime of 3 months. QBITO's primary mission is to conduct technology demonstrations and thermospheric research in space.
Physical Characteristics

Length

0.2

Diameter

0.1

Span

0.2

Dry Mass

2

Launch Mass

2

Shape

Box

Radar Cross Section

Unknown

Visual Magnitude

Unknown

Color

Unknown

Material Composition

Unknown

Technical Details

Payload

QB50-ES01

Purpose

Technology, thermospheric research

Mission

Technology, thermospheric research

Manufacturer

UPM

Life Expectancy

3 months

Bus

Cubesat 2U

Configuration

CubeSat (2U)

Motor

None

Equipment

INMS

Power System

Solar cells, batteries

ADCS

Unknown

Transmitter Frequency

Unknown

Satellite Articles

View All Posts »

Learn more about satellites and other related topics.

Satellites by Country

Satellites by Country

Explore a comprehensive breakdown of satellite counts by country, detailing the USA, Russia, China, and others.

Space Brief 26 Jan 2025

Space Brief 26 Jan 2025

Spacewalks have resumed on the ISS, while Blue Origin prepares for a unique New Shepard mission. In other news, astronomers push for a ban on space ads and potential budget cuts threaten the JWST.

The Day South Korea Achieved Independent Space Launch Capability

The Day South Korea Achieved Independent Space Launch Capability

Twelve years ago, South Korea successfully launched a satellite using its own launch vehicle and facilities for the first time, marking a crucial milestone in its journey to space independence

Space Brief 12 Aug 2025

Space Brief 12 Aug 2025

Today's brief covers a groundbreaking national security mission for ULA's Vulcan, NASA's collaboration with LeoLabs for enhanced collision avoidance, and SEOPS' new satellite tracking services, among other key developments.

The Satellite That Taught Us What We Were Doing to the Planet

The Satellite That Taught Us What We Were Doing to the Planet

Landsat 7 launched on April 15, 1999, designed to last five years. It operated for twenty-five, survived a failure that destroyed a fifth of every image it took, and became part of the longest continuous record of Earth's surface ever assembled. Then they made the data free.

X Report 25 Jul 2025

X Report 25 Jul 2025

SpaceX successfully launched NASA's TRACERS mission while Starlink faced a brief global outage, affecting users worldwide.

Space Force Modernizes Networks Across 14 Bases, SDA Expands $3.5B Satellite Program | KeepTrack Space Brief

Space Force Modernizes Networks Across 14 Bases, SDA Expands $3.5B Satellite Program | KeepTrack Space Brief

Space Force initiates cybersecurity network upgrades across 14 bases. SDA expands $3.5B Tracking Layer with 72 new satellites. SpaceX and China drive record orbital launches in 2025.

Starship Flight 13 to Deploy First Starlink V3 Sats | KeepTrack X Report

Starship Flight 13 to Deploy First Starlink V3 Sats | KeepTrack X Report

Starship Flight 13 launches first Starlink V3 satellites as SpaceX nears 10,839 working satellites in orbit across the Starlink fleet.