QB5s

QB5s refers to the QB50 mission, a European Space Agency (ESA) project that deployed fifty small satellites, or CubeSats, into orbit. The primary scientific objective of QB50 was to study the Earth's lower thermosphere, an atmospheric layer between approximately 200 and 400 kilometers in altitude. This region is crucial for understanding space weather phenomena and their impact on technology. The mission aimed to gather in-situ data on the thermosphere's physical and chemical properties, such as temperature, density, and composition, using miniaturized scientific instruments onboard the CubeSats.

The QB50 project was a collaborative effort involving numerous universities and research institutions from around the world. Each participating institution developed and built its own CubeSat, adhering to strict design and testing standards set by ESA. This approach fostered educational and research opportunities, providing students and researchers with hands-on experience in satellite development and space science. The CubeSats were launched in multiple batches using various launch vehicles, with the majority of them deployed from the International Space Station. The data collected by the QB50 constellation provided a unique, multi-point measurement capability, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of atmospheric dynamics and variability. The mission concluded its operational phase after several years, with the satellites gradually de-orbiting.