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Satellite built by students will be launched soon

A microsatellite built largely from donated parts in university workshops across Europe is just over one week from launch. It took only 18 months for more than 400 students – spread across 23 universities and 12 countries – to design and build the SSETI Express spacecraft. Set to launch from Russia’s Plesetsk Cosmodrome on Sept. 30, the project is part an education effort by the European Space Agency (ESA) to boost student interest in space technology and offer some hands-on experience.

SSETI Express, short for Student Space Exploration Techology Initiative Express, is a boxy satellite about the size of a small washing machine. The 136-pound (62-kilogram) spacecraft is expected to snap photographs of Earth, test a cold-gas attitude control system and function as a radio transponder for amateur radio operators.

The spacecraft will also serve as a mothership for three picosatellites, tiny cubes just under four inches (10 centimeters) wide, built by universities in Germany, Japan and Norway. The picosatellites will be ejected into space on orbit.

The spacecraft cost less than $121,185 (100,000 euros) to piece together, thanks to donated material, equipment and expertise from participating universities and industry businesses, ESA officials said.

SSETI Express is the first of three microsatellites built by student teams.

posted by: kyawoo at 20:11 | link | comments |
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