View source for Astronomy:LICIACube

{{Short description|ASI CubeSat aboard DART spacecraft}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name              = LICIACube
| mission_type      = Deep Space CubeSat
| image             = LICIACube CubeSat a companion satellite of Dart Spacecraft.jpg
| image_alt         = A person in a labcoat handles a box-sized satellite bus.
| image_caption     = LICIACube at the [[Organization:Applied Physics Laboratory|Applied Physics Laboratory]] in August 2021
| spacecraft_bus    = [[Engineering:CubeSat|6U CubeSat]]
| eponym            = 
| COSPAR_ID         = 2021-110C
| SATCAT            = T00005
| operator          = [[Organization:Italian Space Agency|Italian Space Agency]]
| mission_duration =Elapsed: {{time interval|11 September 2022|show=ymd}} 
| manufacturer       = Argotec

| dimensions        = {{cvt|10|x|20|x|30|cm|abbr=on|disp=br()}}
| launch_mass       = {{cvt|14|kg}}
| power             = [[Physics:Photovoltaic system|Solar array]] × 2
| launch_rocket     = [[Engineering:Falcon 9 Block 5|Falcon 9 Block 5]], [[Engineering:List of Falcon 9 first-stage boosters|B1063.3]]
| instruments       = {{Hlist|LEIA|LUKE}}

| launch_date       = 24 November 2021, 06:21:02 [[Physics:Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]
| launch_site       = Vandenberg Space Force Base, SLC-4E
| deployment_date   = 11 September 2022, 23:14 UTC
| deployment_from   = DART
| orbit_regime      = [[Astronomy:Heliocentric orbit|Heliocentric orbit]]
{{Infobox spaceflight/IP
   | type           = flyby 
   | object         = [[Astronomy:65803 Didymos|Didymos]] system
   |component       =
   | arrival_date   = 26 September 2022 at ~23:17 UTC, or ~19:17 EDT, ~16:17 PDT, 27 September, ~01:17 CET  
   | distance       = {{cvt|56.7|km}}
  }}
}}

'''Light Italian CubeSat for Imaging of Asteroids''' ('''LICIACube''', {{IPA-all|ˈli.t͡ʃi.əˌkjuːb}}<ref>
{{cite web
 | date             = 23 September 2022
 | title            = NASA's DART Mission to Impact Asteroid Monday
 | url              = https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/nasas-dart-mission-to-impact-asteroid
 | access-date      = 26 September 2022
 | website          = Sky & Telescope
 | language         = en-US
}}</ref>) is a six-unit [[Engineering:CubeSat|CubeSat]] of the [[Organization:Italian Space Agency|Italian Space Agency]] (ASI). LICIACube is a part of the [[Astronomy:Double Asteroid Redirection Test|Double Asteroid Redirection Test]] (DART) mission and carries out observational analysis of the [[Astronomy:65803 Didymos|Didymos]] asteroid binary system after DART's impact on [[Astronomy:Dimorphos|Dimorphos]]. It communicates directly with [[Astronomy:Earth|Earth]], sending back images of the ejecta and plume of DART's impact as well as having done asteroidal study during its flyby of the Didymos system from a distance of {{cvt|56.7|km}}, 165 seconds after DART's impact.<ref name="HeraWS2018">{{cite web |url=https://www.cosmos.esa.int/documents/1786001/1845930/4.+DART+Overview+%28A.+Cheng%29.pdf/da9935f1-74b7-9316-e9af-0fb2cc63197c|title=DART Mission Update|last=Cheng|first=Andy|publisher=ESA|date=15 November 2018|access-date=14 January 2019}}</ref> LICIACube is the first purely Italian autonomous spacecraft in deep space. Data archiving and processing is managed by the Space Science Data Center (SSDC) of the ASI.

== History ==
LICIACube is the first deep space mission developed and autonomously managed by an Italian team. To collaborate upon the design, integration, and testing of the CubeSat, the [[Organization:Italian Space Agency|Italian Space Agency]] selected the aerospace company Argotec, while the LICIACube GS has a complex architecture based on a [[Engineering:Mission control center|mission control center]] in [[Place:Turin|Turin]] hosted by Argotec and science operation center in [[Place:Rome|Rome]]. Antennas of the [[Astronomy:NASA Deep Space Network|NASA Deep Space Network]] (NASA DSN) and data archiving and processing is managed at the ASI SSDC. The scientific team making this cubesat is led by National Institute of Astrophysics [[Organization:INAF|INAF]] (OAR, IAPS, OAA, OAPd, OATs) with the support of IFAC-CNR and Parthenope University of Naples. The team is supported by the [[Organization:University of Bologna|University of Bologna]] for orbit determination and satellite navigation and the Polytechnic University of Milan, for mission analysis and optimisation. The LICIACube team includes the wider Italian scientific community involved in the definition of all the aspects of the mission: trajectory design; mission definition (and real-time orbit determination during operations); impact, plume and imaging simulation, and modelling, in preparation of a suitable framework for the analysis and interpretation of [[Biology:In situ|in situ]] data. Major technological challenges during the mission (autonomous targeting and imaging of such a small body during a fast [[Engineering:Flyby (spaceflight)|flyby]] with the limited resources of a CubeSat) is affordable thanks to cooperation between the mentioned teams in support of the engineering tasks.

== Satellite design ==
In order to deal with the mission, the Argotec platform uses an autonomous navigation system, two light solar arrays, an integrated propulsion system with thrusters of 50mN thrust and isp of 40s,<ref>{{Cite conference |title=Italian first deep space missions to the Moon and beyond: ArgoMoon and LICIACube ready to be operated |last1=Pirrotta |first1=S. |last2= D’Amico |first2= F. |last3=Mugnuolo |first3=R. |last4=Mascetti |first4=G. |last5=Di Tana |first5=V. |last6=Cotugno |first6=B. |url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/argomoon_and_liciacube_ops.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929090507/https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/argomoon_and_liciacube_ops.pdf |archive-date=29 September 2022 |url-status=live |date=June 2022 |conference=2022 SpaceOps Workshop |location=[[Organization:Ames Research Center|Ames Research Center]] }}</ref> two cameras, an [[Social:X Band Satellite Communication|X-band]] communication system, and an advanced on-board computer.

== Scientific payload ==
LICIACube is equipped with two optical cameras for conducting asteroidal reconnaissance during flyby, dubbed '''LEIA''' (LICIACube Explorer Imaging for Asteroid), a [[Astronomy:Catadioptric system|Catadioptric]] camera, a narrow [[Physics:Field of view|field of view]] ([[Physics:Field of view|FoV]]) of  2.06°, 25 microradian/pixel, 2048x2048 pixels, monochrome, achieving a best resolution of 1.38 m/pix at closest approach) camera, and '''LUKE''' (LICIACube Unit Key Explorer), a wide 5° FoV imaging camera with an RGB Bayer pattern infrared filter. These captured scientific data revealing the composition of the asteroid and provided data for its autonomous system by finding and tracking the asteroid throughout the encounter. As it was released when DART sped up for its intentional impact, it took an image every 6 seconds during DART's impact period. It had preliminary flyby targets including taking 3 high resolution images revealing the asteroid's morphology concentrating on the physics of the asteroid and plume generations after impact. This may help characterise the consequences of the impact.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DART Impact on Monday! |url=https://www.patreon.com/posts/dart-impact-on-72349462?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=postshare_creator |access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref>

== Mission profile ==
=== Launch ===
LICIACube was manufactured in Italy and sent to [[Organization:Applied Physics Laboratory|Applied Physics Laboratory]] (APL) of [[Organization:Johns Hopkins University|Johns Hopkins University]] in September 2021. On 8 September 2021, the LICIACube was integrated into the DART spacecraft for launch on 24 November 2021, at 06:21:02 [[Physics:Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]], inside a spring-loaded box placed on the wall of the DART spacecraft.

=== Goals ===
LICIACube's goals are to:
* Document the effect of DART's impact on the secondary member of the 65803 Didymos binary asteroid system
* Characterise the shape of the target
* Perform dedicated scientific investigations on it

=== Cruise phase and flyby ===
[[File:LICIACube Activities Animated clips of LICIACube deployment and subsequent flyby following DART's kinetic impact.webm|thumb|LICIACube Activities Animated clips of LICIACube deployment and subsequent flyby following DART's kinetic impact]]
After the launch, the Cubesat remained enclosed within a spring-loaded box and piggybacks with the DART spacecraft for almost the entire duration of DART's mission. It separated on 11&nbsp;September 2022 from DART by being ejected at roughly {{cvt|4|km/h}} relative to DART, 15&nbsp;days before impact.<ref>{{cite web |title=DART's Small Satellite Companion Tests Camera Prior to Dimorphos Impact |date=24 September 2022 |url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/dart-s-small-satellite-companion-tests-camera-prior-to-dimorphos-impact |publisher=NASA |access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref> After release, as part of the testing process to calibrate the miniature spacecraft and its cameras, LICIACube captured images of a crescent Earth and the [[Astronomy:Pleiades|Pleiades]] [[Astronomy:Star cluster|star cluster]], also known as the Seven Sisters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DART's Small Satellite Companion Tests Camera Prior to Dimorphos Impact |url=https://www.jhuapl.edu/NewsStory/220924-liciacube-tests-camera-prior-to-dart-impact/ |access-date=26 September 2022 |website=JHUAPL |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Two LICIACube LUKE images showing the ejecta morphology that were used to reduce the possible axis orientation solutions.webp|thumb|Dart Impact seen by LICIACube]]
It conducted 3 orbital manoeuvrers for its final trajectory, which flew it past Dimorphos about 2&nbsp;minutes 45&nbsp;seconds after DART’s impact. That slight delay allowed LICIACube to confirm impact, observe the plume’s evolution, potentially capture images of the newly formed impact crater, and view the opposite hemisphere of Dimorphos that DART never saw, while drifting past the asteroid.<ref name='DART Home LICIA'>[http://dart.jhuapl.edu/News-and-Resources/blog.php?id=20180927 Asteroids have been hitting the Earth for billions of years. In 2022, we hit back.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031133108/http://dart.jhuapl.edu/News-and-Resources/blog.php?id=20180927|date=31 October 2018}} Andy Rivkin, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory 27 September 2018</ref><ref name="esa20181220">{{cite web|url=https://www.cosmos.esa.int/documents/13611/1603502/20181220_cubesats.pdf#page=34|title=The CubeSat Revolution|last1=Kretschmar|first1=Peter|last2=Küppers |first2=Michael|publisher=ESA|date=20 December 2018|access-date=24 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|doi=10.1109/AERO.2019.8742007|isbn=978-1-5386-6854-2|quote="In addition, DART is carrying a 6U CubeSat provided by [[Organization:Italian Space Agency|Agenzia Spaziale Italiana]] (ASI). The CubeSat will provide imagery documentation of the impact, as well as in situ observation of the impact site and resultant ejecta plume" |chapter=Double Asteroid Redirection Test: The Earth Strikes Back|title=2019 IEEE Aerospace Conference|year=2019|last1=Adams|first1=Elena|last2=Oshaughnessy|first2=Daniel|last3=Reinhart|first3=Matthew |last4=John|first4=Jeremy|last5=Congdon|first5=Elizabeth|last6=Gallagher|first6=Daniel|last7=Abel|first7=Elisabeth|last8=Atchison|first8=Justin|last9=Fletcher|first9=Zachary|last10=Chen|first10=Michelle |last11=Heistand|first11=Christopher|last12=Huang|first12=Philip|last13=Smith|first13=Evan|last14=Sibol|first14=Deane|last15=Bekker|first15=Dmitriy|last16=Carrelli|first16=David|pages=1–11|s2cid=195222414}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|bibcode=2018AGUFM.P51A..07F|title=DART Impact Ejecta Simulation and Visualization for Fly-Along CubeSat Operational Planning|last1=Fahnestock|first1=E.|last2=Yu|first2=Y.|last3=Cheng |first3=A. F.|journal=AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts|volume=2018|page=P51A–07|year=2018}}</ref>

=== Mission after flyby ===
After the flyby, it spends a few weeks time sending the data back to Earth. Depending on its status and remaining propellant, it can potentially do another visit to one of these asteroids:
* [[Astronomy:2019 XS|2019 XS]] on 16 November 2023
* [[Astronomy:14827 Hypnos|14827 Hypnos (1986 JK)]] on 3 June 2024<ref>{{Cite tweet |title=The work of #LICIACube does not end here, we have a precious and functional tool and now we are deciding which celestial bodies to direct it to|url=https://twitter.com/liciacube/status/1585556947595661313 |number=1585556947595661313|access-date=2022-11-14 |website=Twitter |user=LICIACube|language=en}}</ref>

== Results ==
[[File:Liciacube luke l0 1664234221 00000 01 rgb zoom flip.png|thumb|Photo taken by LICIACube of the ejecta from the DART impact.]]
Several images have been transmitted to Earth showing rays of impact debris streaming from Dimorphos.<ref name=LICIACuberef>{{cite news|url=https://gizmodo.com/liciacube-images-dart-asteroid-impact-1849585958 |title=First Asteroid Impact Images from DART's Companion Show Tentacle-Like Debris Plume|author=George Dvorsky|date=27 September 2022|publisher=Gizmodo}}</ref> 
On 28 September 2022, the first images of the impact from the LICIACube probe were published on a NASA web page.<ref>{{cite web |title=LICIACube Impact Images |url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/first-images-from-italian-space-agency-s-liciacube-satellite |website=NASA |date=27 September 2022 |access-date=1 October 2022}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Dart header 2 (1).jpg|Artist's illustration of DART and LICIACube at the Didymos system
File:Infographic_showing_the_effect_of_DART's_impact_on_the_orbit_of_Didymos_B.jpg|Infographic of the effects of DART's impact on the orbit of [[Astronomy:Dimorphos|Dimorphos]] and the deployment of LICIACube.
File:LICIACube CubeSat integrating on Dart Spacecraft.jpg|LICIACube CubeSat integrating on DART spacecraft
File:LICIACube CubeSat integrated on Dart Spacecraft.jpg|LICIACube CubeSat integrated on DART spacecraft.
File:20211123 213015 dart prelaunch 07.jpg|DART spacecraft with LICIACube protruding on centre left
File:FEPpgsTWQAI06mE (1).jpg|DART mating to payload adapter, LICIACube visible at centre 
File:DART inside the payload fairing (KSC-20211116-PH-EGW01 0001).jpg|Falcon 9 launch vehicle's payload fairing being attached to NASA's DART spacecraft (LICIACube visible) on 16 November 2021.
File:20211123 213015 dart prelaunch 06.jpg|DART vertical at launch pad
</gallery>

== See also ==
<!-- alphabetical order please WP:SEEALSO -->
<!-- please add a short description WP:SEEALSO, via {{subst:AnnotatedListOfLinks}} or {{Annotated link}} -->
{{div col|colwidth=30em|small=yes}}
* {{Annotated link |Asteroid impact avoidance}}
* {{Annotated link |B612 Foundation}}
* {{Annotated link |Don Quijote (spacecraft)}}
* {{Annotated link |Double Asteroid Redirection Test}}
* {{Annotated link |NEO Surveyor}}
* {{Annotated link |The Spaceguard Foundation}}
{{div col end}}
<!-- alphabetical order please WP:SEEALSO -->

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Planetary Missions Program Office|Solar System Exploration=y}}
{{Planetary defense}}
{{Asteroid spacecraft}}
{{Falcon rocket launches}}
{{Solar System probes}}

[[Category:Missions to asteroids]]
[[Category:Solar System Exploration program]]
[[Category:NASA space probes]]

{{Sourceattribution|LICIACube}}