QAC-1 Spacecraft - Nanosats Database

Satellite name	QAC-1
Form factor	PocketQube
Units or mass	PocketQube 6p
Organization	Quub
Institution	Company
Entity type	Commercial
Country	US
Oneliner	Test the satellite bus design for commercial application, as well as to perform a radio experiment.
Description	Test the satellite bus design for commercial application, as well as to perform a radio experiment. The satellites will endeavor to capture and downlink images of the Earth, as well as to assess and measure the radio frequency communications between the satellites and the ground station. The flock is composed of 4 units with the dimensions of six 5 cm X 5 cm X 5 cm PocketQube modules plus standard tab spacing (giving an overall dimension of 74 mm x 192 mm x 143.2 mm with solar panels in their stowed configuration.) The total mass of one satellite is about 1.75 Kg. The primary computer onboard is a Raspberry Pi CM4 mounted on a custom printed carrier board which also comprises the back exterior panel of the spacecraft. This system includes a Sony IMX283CQJ image sensor with a custom monolithic telescope seated in a mounting bracket. The solar arrays utilize Gran Systems photovoltaic cells; the batteries are Samsung INR18650 cells. The satellite’s frame is fabricated of Windform and FR4 printed circuit board to hold components in place and protect subsystems from damage. The satellites include one bismuth solid-fuel vacuum arc thruster each.
Sources	[1]
Photo sources	[1]
Keywords	Propulsion, Globalstar or Iridium or Inmarsat

Related Spacecraft

Satellite	Status	Launcher	Launch	Orbit
QAC-1 A	not launched (should have launched, status unclear)	Falcon 9	2026-12-30	not launched
QAC-1 B	not launched (should have launched, status unclear)	Falcon 9	2026-12-30	not launched
QAC-1 C	not launched (should have launched, status unclear)	Falcon 9	2026-12-30	not launched
QAC-1 D	not launched (should have launched, status unclear)	Falcon 9	2026-12-30	not launched

Last modified: 2026-01-03