Binar-2, Binar-3, and Binar-4 are part of the second Binar space mission which consists of three 1U CubeSats.
Photos of Binar-2, 3 & 4 in orbit Courtesy of JAXA
Photos of Binar-2, 3 & 4 in orbit Courtesy of JAXA
A follow up to Binar-1, WA’s first satellite mission, Binar-2, 3, & 4 comprises three 1U CubeSats hosting scientific experiments, in-house developed technology validation and industry payloads. The upgraded platform on Binar-2, Binar-3 and Binar-4 extend the possibilities of the Binar-1 platform, increasing the institutional capability of the Binar Space Program.
On August 4, 2024 at 11:02 a.m. ET (11:02 p.m. AWST), the NG-21 Cygnus spacecraft carrying Binar-2, 3 & 4 successfully launched from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of Northrop Grumman’s 21st commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station (ISS). (LAUNCH VIDEO: NASA/YouTube)
The Cygnus spacecraft was captured by the Inernational Space Station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm commanded by Expedition 71 Flight Engineer Matthew Dominick of NASA on August 6th.
Binar-234 were successfully deployed on August 29th, 2024 at 7:20PM AWST from the ISS (watch the replay of the livestream here!), and satellite operations have now commenced. Binar’s launch service provider, SpaceBD of Japan facilitated the deployment from the JAXA Kibo Module of the ISS in the same way Binar-1 was deployed.
The Binar-234 satellites were deployed into a naturally decaying orbit below the ISS at an altitude of 400km above sea-level, and will be circling Earth every ~90 minutes for 6-12 months before burning up sustainably in the atmosphere.
The Binar Space Program team were able to receive beacons from all 3 of our CubeSats in their very first pass over our ground station at Curtin University, which occurred approximately 38 minutes after deployment. We continue to consistently receive beacons from all 3 of our CubeSats, which is a great sign that everything is functioning as expected and that they are in good health.
You can listen in on the amateur radio band and track their progress. More information is available in the Amateur Radio section of our website.