Changes

== What is a CubeSat? ==

== What is a CubeSat? ==

A [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CubeSat CubeSat] is a small satellite that fits a particular size requirement. These specifications, created by professors at Stanford and Cal Poly, help to make launching satellites far more accessible because they help to lower costs. Since any CubeSat can fit into any standardized deployer, launch providers and third-party companies spend a lot less money getting the satellites to fit onto the rocket!  

A [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CubeSat CubeSat] is a small satellite that fits a particular size requirement. These specifications, created by professors at Stanford and Cal Poly, help to make launching satellites more accessible by reducing costs. Since any CubeSat can fit into any standardized deployer, launch providers and third-party companies spend a lot less money getting the satellites to fit onto the rocket!  

CubeSats come in standardized "units," abbreviated with a "U." A 1U CubeSat is the smallest size, with dimensions of around 10cm by 10cm by 10cm. A larger 2U is just like two 1U's stacked on top of each other, so instead of 10cm tall it's 20cm. A 3U is the same thing again, 30cm tall. Bigger CubeSats like a 6U (30cm x 20cm x 10cm) exist as well, and as size increases so does cost. Our first satellites were 1U satellites, but we're starting to build bigger ones!

CubeSats come in standardized "units," abbreviated with a "U." A 1U CubeSat is the smallest size, with dimensions of around 10cm by 10cm by 10cm. A larger 2U is just like two 1U's stacked on top of each other, so instead of 10cm tall it's 20cm. A 3U is the same thing again, 30cm tall. Bigger CubeSats like a 6U (30cm x 20cm x 10cm) exist as well, and as size increases so does cost. Our first satellites were 1U satellites, but we're starting to build some bigger ones :)

== Subteams ==

== Subteams ==

=== ''Sapling Giganteum'': 2022–2023 ===

=== ''Sapling Giganteum'': 2022–2023 ===

[[File:Sapling2-photoshoot.jpeg|left|thumb|''Sapling Giganteum'']]

[[File:Sapling2-photoshoot.jpeg|left|thumb|''Sapling Giganteum'']]

Also referred to as Sapling-2, this was the second of the ''Sapling'' series of 1U CubeSats. This mission represented a major step forward in our satellite design and became the first SSI satellite to successfully make contact with the ground once deployed.  

Also referred to as Sapling-2, this was the second of the ''Sapling'' series of 1U CubeSats. This mission represented a major step forward in our satellite design and became the first SSI satellite to be  deployed in space. It also became the first SSI satellite to successfully make contact with the ground and to carry out on-orbit operations.  

Sapling-2 launched on SpaceX's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_spaceflight_launches_in_January%E2%80%93June_2023#SpXTransporter7 Transporter 7] at 11:48pm PST on April 14th, 2023 from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandenberg_Space_Force_Base Vandenburg Space Force Base] in Southern California. Shortly after deployment contact was made with SSI's Durand ground station.

Sapling-2 launched on SpaceX's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_spaceflight_launches_in_January%E2%80%93June_2023#SpXTransporter7 Transporter 7] at 11:48pm PST on April 14th, 2023 from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandenberg_Space_Force_Base Vandenburg Space Force Base] in Southern California. Shortly after deployment contact was made with SSI's Durand ground station.

=== ''Sapling'' ''Sempervirens'': 2020–2023 ===

=== ''Sapling'' ''Sempervirens'': 2020–2023 ===

[[File:Sapling1.jpeg|thumb|''Sapling Sempervirens'' before delivery]]

[[File:Sapling1.jpeg|thumb|''Sapling Sempervirens'' before delivery]]

Also referred to as Sapling-1, this was the first of the ''Sapling'' 1U CubeSats. While [https://ssi-wiki.stanford.edu/Category:Satellites#POINTR:_.5Byear.5D.E2.80.932018 POINTR] was the Satellite team's first payload to reach space, Sapling-1 would be the first entire satellite designed and built in-house by SSI.  

Also referred to as Sapling-1, this was the first of the ''Sapling'' 1U CubeSats. While [https://ssi-wiki.stanford.edu/Category:Satellites#POINTR:_.5Byear.5D.E2.80.932018 POINTR] was the Satellite team's first payload to reach space, Sapling-1 would be the first entire satellite designed and built in-house by SSI to make it to space.  

Sapling-1 was launched on SpaceX's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_spaceflight_launches_in_January%E2%80%93June_2023#SpXTransporter6 Transporter 6] at 10:56am EST on January 3rd, 2023 from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Canaveral_Space_Launch_Complex_40 Space Launch Complex 40] in Cape Canaveral, Florida. For this mission, the third-party company we partnered with successfully deployed from the Falcon 9 rocket and made contact with the ground but was unable to deploy its customer payloads which included Sapling-1. Even though Sapling-1 never left the deployer, the process of designing, building, testing, and delivering the satellite taught the team a number of crucial lessons which carried over directly to ''Sapling Giganteum''.  

Sapling-1 was launched on SpaceX's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_spaceflight_launches_in_January%E2%80%93June_2023#SpXTransporter6 Transporter 6] at 10:56am EST on January 3rd, 2023 from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Canaveral_Space_Launch_Complex_40 Space Launch Complex 40] in Cape Canaveral, Florida. For this mission, the third-party company we partnered with was successfully deployed from the Falcon 9 rocket and made contact with the ground, but was unable to deploy its customer payloads which included Sapling-1. Even though Sapling-1 never left the deployer, the process of designing, building, testing, and delivering the satellite taught the team a number of crucial lessons which carried over directly to ''Sapling Giganteum''.  

The avionics on Sapling-1 include a PyCubed V(?) main flight computer, NCR18650B batteries, and solar power based off of the LT3652 chip.  

The avionics on Sapling-1 include a PyCubed V(?) main flight computer, NCR18650B batteries, and solar power based off of the LT3652 chip.