After the successful implementation of several international projects Ukraine declared itself as a space state, which has a unique industrial and scientific potential. Many years physical-technical faculty of Dnipropetrovsk National University named after Oles Gonchar led by leading scientists and graduate students designing and developing university satellites.
Such research has told the head of the Department of Computer Aided Management of Physical and Technical Faculty, Associate Professor A.M. Kulabuhov:
- The works of this area began in 2004 with the creation of projects of Ukrainian youth satellites UMS UMS-1 and-2. As part of the National Space Program of Ukraine Department of Physics and Technology DNU prepared six projects for equipment such satellites (which have been developed for technical tasks, and UMS-1 made preliminary design), for which he received the diplomas of the National Center for Aerospace Education of Youth of Ukraine (NAECUY) and National Space Agency of Ukraine (NCA). However, for lack of funds the projects are still not fulfilled, because the production of microsatellites type UMS should have about 50 million.
Today it became urgent to develop less costly satellites, small class - Nanosatellite. Construction of buildings and office systems previously developed in Ukraine, and the establishment of such platforms require the use of new technologies and new element base. Fizteh DNU successfully drafted a unified platform Nanosatellite with high performance information for the equipment payload and in 2007 graduated NAECUY. Based on the project at the Faculty for two years, is actively working to create the first university Nanosatellite Ukraine.
- And what are the main objectives of the project?
- For its implementation Dnepropetrovsk National University. Honchar teamed with the National Technical University of Ukraine "KPI", National Aerospace University. Zhukovsky "HAI" and KNURE (KNURE). Such a satellite with ground infrastructure can be used by leading aerospace university and as a modern laboratory practice in management of small spacecraft, and for the filming of the earth's surface, receiving and processing satellite data. Shoot the earth's surface with variable focal length in the visible range and transfer this information to Earth via communications - the main task Nanosatellite.
Development of university satellite requires new knowledge, original research and technical solutions. It attracts graduate students and young scientists and enables a scientific school of space vehicles, ground equipment and satellite communications. Training is highly scientific and educational experts will open branches in different countries, which certainly enhance the image of Ukraine as a space power.
The main coordinator of the manufacturing of the satellite is our fizteh: we develop a building, equipment payload, coordinate it with the onboard equipment, creating a radio communication "Earth-board" and "air-to-Earth", are developing ground terminals. In developing KPI management system and solar panels; in HAI - supply systems Nanosatellite module type and management system onboard equipment; in KNURE - satellite navigation equipment. Our University - Chief Executive of the project, and I appointed responsible.
Modern laboratory equipment will allow young faculty experts and professors from other universities internship in Dnepropetrovsk. By the way, 75% of project participants - young people, over 200 students performing work within the course and diploma projects. The newly established Student Design Office Nanosatellite university students develop designs, choose the element base, developing software on-board satellite equipment. Important advisory support to provide the leading specialists of enterprises SE "BC South", ITM of NASU and NCA, SC "Dneprokosmos" and others, which allows students to participate in a real project rocket and space technology.
- When complete the project?
- Basic circuit design solutions and plan to finish by the end of 2011, and by mid-2012 - make the efforts of students and graduate samples Nanosatellite blocks with dimensions 400h150h150 weight to 12 kg and the term of active existence year. But certain difficulties related to the fact that the developed equipment was not in space, and guarantee its performance in space is difficult. So recently at the joint meeting of rectors of universities participating in the project with the space agency decided to youth first Ukrainian satellite launch based on the existing platform "Sich-2", which will be used university equipment payload satellite. This will assess its performance in Earth orbit. Run want to make new Ukrainian rocket carrier 'Cyclone-4 "Brazilian cosmodrome in 2013-2014 year.
Source: MONmolodsport Ukraine