Microsatellite Program
Great advances in the development of microelectronics,
large-scale adoption of microprocessors, wide use of space
technologies, ease of access to space system elements make
it possible to solve a wide range of critical problems by
means of microsatellites (MS), which can find use in satellite
communication, Earth remote sensing, space physics and technology,
education, etc. In order to implement these ambitions, a
long-term space, scientific-educational program based upon
research microsatellites (MS Program) is developed.
The fact that the pupils will be able to operate microsatellites
under direct guidance of scientists and designers will contribute
to further improvement of the secondary and higher education
system as well as make it possible to find the best solutions
to the problems of training future specialists of space
industry.
The schoolchildren are expected to be involved in the following
activities:
- Study of a possible implementation of the projects dealing
with ballistics, radio engineering, computer science,
processes of thermal physics, monitoring of the processes
on the Earth and in space, etc.;
- An analysis and observation of the satellite manufacturing
processes;
- Reception and processing of scientific-technical information
transmitted from space satellite.
The first research-educational MS under the above Program
is the Kolibry MS which was developed and manufactured using
the funds allocated by two Australian schools, research
and production entities of Russia involved in the project.
RSC Energia's contribution to the above project will be
the following: to ensure the Kolibry MS/International
Space Station (ISS) integration, including satellite delivery
into orbit and launch into open space, as well as involvement
of the required experts from the corporation in the project.
The Kolibry MS basic research tasks include studing the
processes related to a sudden increase in intensity of space
solar ray fluxes affecting a state of the Earth radiation
belts, with ejections of plasma clouds from the surface
of the Sun, which interact with the Earth magnetosphere
and cause dramatic changes in magnetic and electric fields
of ionosphere and the Earth surface.
Taking part of the Russian and Australian schoolchildren
in the Kolibry Project predetermined its additional scientific
task set to them: a comparative study of near space over
the territories of highly industrialized Europe and Australia
with its less technological environmental impact.