Problems with nanosat launched from Vostochny
Of the three satellites launched on the first liftoff from Russia’s Vostochny spaceport, the nanosat is having communication problems.
The problem with establishing a radio contact with the SamSat-218D nanosatellite is caused by its fast spinning, TASS the Samara State Aerospace University that designed the spacecraft told TASS on Wednesday. “When the spacecraft was placed into orbit, it started to spin round too quickly. It has a very little mass – less than two kilograms. As a result, its antenna cannot catch the information, the satellite is rotating rapidly,” the source said.
For Russia this nanosat is the first built entirely by college students, something that U.S. students have been doing for years.
Of the three satellites launched on the first liftoff from Russia’s Vostochny spaceport, the nanosat is having communication problems.
The problem with establishing a radio contact with the SamSat-218D nanosatellite is caused by its fast spinning, TASS the Samara State Aerospace University that designed the spacecraft told TASS on Wednesday. “When the spacecraft was placed into orbit, it started to spin round too quickly. It has a very little mass – less than two kilograms. As a result, its antenna cannot catch the information, the satellite is rotating rapidly,” the source said.
For Russia this nanosat is the first built entirely by college students, something that U.S. students have been doing for years.