CHAMP, MITA & Rubin 1

CHAMP (Challenging Mini-Satellite Payload) is a German small satellite mission for geoscientific and atmospheric research and applications, managed by GFZ. With its highly precise, multifunctional and complementary payload elements (magnetometer, accelerometer, star sensor, GPS receiver, laser retro reflector, ion drift meter) and its orbit characteristics (near polar, low altitude, long duration) CHAMP will generate for the first time simultaneously highly precise gravity and magnetic field measurements over a 5 years period. This will allow to detect besides the spatial variations of both fields also their variability with time.

MITA (Mini-Satellite Italiano a Tecnologia Avanzata) is being developed with the prime contractorship of Carlo Gavazzi Space S.p.A. under an A.S.I. (Italian Space Agency) contract. The project's aim is to design, develop and implement a low cost platform for small Earth missions in order to support a wide range of applications. The configuration of the satellite main body is based on a cubic-shaped module,100 (kg) range, 3 axis stabilized and is designed especially for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) missions with a lifetime of 3 to 5 years.

Bird-Rubin (a.k.a Rubin 1) is a German communications payload that was launched by a Kosmos-3M rocket from Plesetsk. The 37 kilogram attached payload carries components for testing in the space environment, especially the comunication of satellites via the Orbcomm low orbital satellite network. Bird-Rubin remained intentionally attached to the rocket's 2nd stage.