Development and Initial Operations of the Rax-2 Cubesat

RAX-2 is a 3U CubeSat that is studying the formation of plasma irregularities in the ionosphere. The primary payload is a UHF radar receiver which is used in conjunction with ground-based incoherent scatter radar stations to characterize the irregularities. RAX is the first CubeSat funded by the United States National Science Foundation’s Small Satellite Program for Space Weather Research. The satellite, launched October 28, 2011, continues the scientific mission started by the RAX-1 CubeSat. This paper discusses the mission and the initial operations of the satellite. After successful checkout, RAX-2 began scientific operations on November 22, 2011. With the exception of an SD card anomaly, the spacecraft has performed well on orbit. 19 radar experiments have been performed, and RAX-2 measurements of radar scatter from the ionospheric irregularities have already provided unprecedented detail for characterization and improved understanding of the formation of the irregularities.