Similarly, Cubesat-3 or ITU-pSAT1 from Istanbul Technical University in Turkey will examine the performance of an onboard passive stability system consisting of a magnet, which will align the micro-satellite to the magnetic field of the earth with an error of about 15 degrees according to simulations. It will also download photographs taken by a camera with a resolution of 640x480 pixels.

Cubesat-4 or SwissCube from Ecole Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne in Switzerland will take optical measurements and characterise the airglow intensity over selected latitudes and longitudes. The payload will demonstrate that the airglow emissions are strong enough to be measured by an off-the-shelf detector and validate the concept to develop a low-cost earth sensor.

Rubin-9.1 and Rubin-9.2, weighing 8 kg each, are primarily used for the automatic identification system for maritime applications. Being non-separable payloads, the two mini-satellites are mounted on the fourth stage of the rocket's upper deck.

Rubin-0.1, developed by Luxspace, will provide an insight into the issue of message collisions that limit detection in areas of dense shipping.

Rubin-9.2 from Angstrom in Sweden will test and qualify nano-technologies. It will also continue the space-based automatic identification system receiver experiments that were conducted by Rubin-7 and Rubin-8 missions launched last year.

After the main payload was injected into the orbit 18 minutes after lift-off, the four auxiliary Cubesats were separated and placed in the orbit sequentially 45 seconds later, while the two Rubin satellites remained attached to the upper stage of the rocket.

'The initial signals indicate normal health of the satellites,' the statement said.