The first Polish commercial satellite Światowid will be launched into space in April
In April next year the Światowid satellite will have competed all tests. It will fly to the International Space Station and from there it will be launched into orbit, SatRevolution COO Grzegorz Zwoliński told PAP.
Światowid is the first Polish commercial satellite. "It was built entirely in Poland, based on Polish technological ideas, from the on-board computer to the whole structure" – SatRevolution COO Grzegorz Zwoliński told PAP.
The satellite has dimensions of 20 x 10 x 10 cm. The technology used in its development will allow Światowid to take pictures in visible light, which will enable observations of water level rise, condition of air, weather changes.
At the end of September, the satellite was tested in a temperature-vacuum chamber. "It was exposed to low and extremely high temperatures, from -65 degrees Celsius to approx. +120 degrees Celsius" – said SatRevolution development manager Tomasz Poźniak.
The purpose of the work currently carried out is to evaluate the operation of individual satellite modules and determine whether any physical damages have occurred.
"We will have to repeat the same tests and then we will move on to vibration tests, later to EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) tests" – said Zwoliński.
Vibration tests are carried out to verify that the satellite will survive the flight to space onboard a rocket. In other words, the Światowid`s path to a low orbit around Earth is simulated.
In turn, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) tests verify that a turned on satellite with radio turned off will not interfere with the operation of other instruments on the International Space Station (ISS). It should be noted that for the first half hour after the nanosatellite is launched into space from the ISS, radio communication with the satellite will have to remain off.
"Tests are a required not only by the company that will transport the satellite, but also by NASA, because our Światowid will be launched from the International Space Station" explained the COO of SatRevolution.
If everything goes as planned, by April 2019 the device will have been be thoroughly tested, including its mechanical and electronic systems.
If all tests are successfully completed, in April Światowid will fly to the International Space Station and from there it will be launched into orbit.
Source: PAP - Science in Poland, Magdalena Jarco
maja/ ksk/ skr/ kap/
tr. RL
18.10.2018
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