Saturn

Saturn [Roskosmos]

Saturn is a Russian 6U CubeSat developed by Kuban Technological University, launched on 27 June 2023 aboard a Soyuz-2-1b Fregat rocket. The satellite was intended for space weather monitoring using the AURA-3 detector.

The mission was designed to study space weather phenomena, focusing on the detection and characterization of charged particles and radiation in near-Earth space. Data from the AURA-3 instrument would have contributed to understanding solar-terrestrial interactions and their effects on satellite systems and communications.

The spacecraft was developed by Kuban Technological University in cooperation with Skobeltsin Institute of Nuclear Physics at Moscow State University (Skobeltsin NIIYaF MGU). As an academic project, it likely served both scientific and educational purposes, involving students and researchers in satellite design, integration, and mission planning. The payload, AURA-3, represents a compact particle detector tailored for CubeSat platforms.

Saturn was built in the 6U CubeSat form factor, a standardized modular configuration that typically measures approximately 10 � 20 � 30 cm. While detailed technical specifications have not been published, satellites of this class generally include deployable solar panels, onboard data handling systems, and communication subsystems operating in amateur or scientific frequency bands.

The satellite was launched on 27 June 2023 as part of a rideshare mission on a Soyuz-2-1b rocket with a Fregat upper stage. Following deployment, no confirmed signal or operational status has been reported as of late 2023.