AubieSat-1 was launched as part of NASA’s Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) program. Its mission was to test two different types of solar panel encapsulation to reduce degradation over time.

  

 

Following its October 2011 launch, the satellite transmitted the Auburn University battle cry, “War Eagle” to Earth from space for the first time ever, in Morse Code. The satellite transmitted its beacon for about two years before becoming silent: batteries reached their end of life

AubieSat-1 has the Oscar Number of OA-71 and was transmiting at 437.475 MHz.

 

To see where AubieSat-1 is now, click ​here.



To hear AubieSat-1 transmitting in morse code,

click on the play icon.



 

 

The satellite has been sending battery voltage information down to Earth over the years, and Auburn University students have continually analyzed that information for clues as to what happened to the solar panels and the onboard batteries in the harsh environment of space. 

 

These lessons have proved to be invaluable in the development of the programs new satellites.